Recently, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye's speech at the symposium on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France has attracted widespread attention. He expounded the Taiwan issue in detail and in depth, and his expression was novel and his viewpoint was clear-cut, which was refreshing.
This speech is not only a comprehensive analysis of the Taiwan issue, but also a clear declaration of the stand and attitude of the international community, especially the Western countries, on the Taiwan issue.
First of all, Ambassador Lu Shaye clearly pointed out that Taiwan's current state of division is actually a problem left over from the civil war in the 40s of the last century.
In a sense, he stressed, "China's civil war is not over, and the current regime in Taiwan can be seen as a rebel regime within Chinese territory."
We reserve the right to expel them at any time and to regain control of Taiwan.
This statement undoubtedly proclaimed to the world the firm stand and determination of the Chinese Government on the Taiwan issue.
Ambassador Lu Shaye's clever and meaningful wording, in which the words "at any time" and "expulsion" are used not only reflects the determination and strength of the Chinese government on the Taiwan issue, but also implies that we do not rule out the possibility of using force to recover Taiwan.
Of course, the use of force is the last option, an extreme measure to be considered only when peace efforts cannot reach unity.
We have always firmly believed that peaceful reunification is the best way to resolve the Taiwan issue, and therefore we have put forward the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" with the aim of ensuring the peaceful and smooth return of Taiwan's right to govern.
When talking about the influence of external forces on the Taiwan issue, Ambassador Lu Shaye directly named the United States and accused it of conniving at the DPP authorities in pursuing "Taiwan independence."
He made it clear that China's position is consistent and clear: Taiwan has only one way to return to the motherland.
This statement is undoubtedly a stern warning against the interference of the United States and other external forces in China's internal affairs, and at the same time, it also demonstrates the Chinese Government's firm stand and unquestionable determination on the Taiwan issue.
The purpose of Ambassador Lu Shaye's elaboration of the Taiwan issue in the Western community is not merely to clarify China's position and attitude.
More importantly, in this way, he hopes to send a clear message to Western countries, especially France: the one-China principle is the political cornerstone of Sino-French relations and a norm universally recognized by the international community.
On the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has always respected the position and choice of France and other countries, and at the same time hopes that these countries will unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence," earnestly implement the one-China policy, and support China's peaceful reunification process.
Ambassador Lu Shaye's speech style is known for being outspoken, and he continues this style in his exposition of the Taiwan issue.
His expression is novel and thought-provoking, which not only reveals the facts that the island does not want to face, but also shows the outside world the firm stand and determination of the Chinese Government on the Taiwan issue.
When he used the phrase "rebel regime," he was actually announcing to the outside world that the PLA's military deployment around Taiwan was preparing for the suppression of the rebellion, and that it was a justifiable move that no outside power had the right to interfere with.
At the same time, the expression "rebel regime" is not only aimed at the DPP authorities, but also covers the entire Taiwan authorities.
The ingenuity of this wording lies in the fact that it avoids directly targeting a certain political party or individual, and instead criticizes the entire Taiwan authorities as a whole.
Such an expression not only reflects the Chinese Government's comprehensive understanding of the Taiwan issue, but also avoids controversy and misunderstanding arising from specific directions.
Ambassador Lu Shaye's speech echoed the latest statement of the Ministry of National Defense.
At a recent press conference, the Ministry of Defense made it clear that for the DPP authorities, they need to adapt to the status quo of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) "surrounded on all sides".
This statement and Ambassador Lu Shaye's speech corroborate each other, and together constitute the Chinese Government's comprehensive strategy and firm position on the Taiwan issue.
We have been preparing public opinion for reunification, and the specific ways and means of reunification will be determined according to the actual situation.
In this process, we must make one thing clear: the right to define the Taiwan issue must be firmly in our hands, so as to prevent external forces from taking the opportunity to play and interfere in China's internal affairs.
This is a necessary measure for us to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is also an important guarantee for realizing the complete reunification of the motherland.
Ambassador Lu Shaye's speech also sparked a discussion on the "status quo in the Taiwan Strait."
The United States and other external forces often talk about maintaining the "status quo in the Taiwan Strait," but what they call the "status quo" is actually a state of separation between the two sides of the strait.
According to Ambassador Lu Shaye, the United States has repeatedly emphasized the "status quo" in an attempt to maintain cross-strait separation, does this mean that the United States is sheltering Taiwan's "rebel regime"? This is a question worth pondering.
The United States must give a clear answer to this question, and can no longer prevaricate with "strategic ambiguity."
In the process of realizing the reunification of the motherland, we not only have a firm stand and determination, but also a perfect legal guarantee.
Recently, the "Opinions on Punishing 'Taiwan Independence' Diehards for Separatism and Inciting Splittist Crimes" jointly issued by the "two supreme courts and three ministries" has provided a powerful legal weapon for reunification.
The promulgation of the "Opinions" not only reflects the Chinese Government's attitude of severely cracking down on "Taiwan independence" elements, but also provides a solid legal foundation for realizing the complete reunification of the motherland.
The "Opinions" clearly stipulate that the stubborn "Taiwan independence" elements will be severely punished, and the maximum sentence may be the death penalty.
Such a stipulation is undoubtedly a powerful deterrent to "Taiwan independence" elements and is also a stern warning to them in their attempt to split the country.
At the same time, the "Opinions" also embody our principle of blending leniency with severity, and we will also give appropriate treatment and education to those who take the initiative to abandon their "Taiwan independence" stance and return to the embrace of the motherland.
To sum up, Ambassador Lu Shaye's speech is not only a comprehensive analysis and in-depth elaboration of the Taiwan issue, but also a clear declaration to the international community, especially Western countries.
His outspoken and firm stance demonstrated the determination and strength of the Chinese Government on the Taiwan issue. At the same time, we should also realize that realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is a long-term and arduous task that requires us to make sustained efforts and struggles.
In this process, we must take a firm stand, maintain determination, strengthen unity, forge ahead, and work hard to realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!