Taiwan Faces 'Forced Unification' Threat, Not Independence Issue, Scholars Argue

The status quo in the Taiwan Strait has become an international focus after the 'Xi-Biden meeting.' Scholars at a symposium held by Tunghai University's Research Center for China Studies on the 11th emphasized that Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country, and there is no issue of 'independence.' The real crisis in the Taiwan Strait lies in the threat of 'being unified.' Scholars called on Taiwanese society to reject the framework set by China, stating that the CCP's shouting of 'anti-Taiwan independence' is merely a political excuse to legitimize aggression against Taiwan.

Tunghai University's Research Center for China Studies held a symposium titled 'Taiwan Has No 'Independence' Issue, Only a 'Forced Unification' Issue' this afternoon at the NTU International Convention Center. Lin Tzu-li, Director of the Research Center for China Studies, pointed out that Beijing has long claimed in the international community that Taiwan is 'relying on the US for independence,' but in reality, Taiwan has no intention of disrupting the stability of the Taiwan Strait; it is China that is truly changing the status quo.

Hung Pu-chao, Deputy Executive Director of the Research Center, further emphasized that the outside world is accustomed to understanding the cross-strait issue as a struggle between unification and independence. However, behind this, China is using the 'anti-Taiwan independence' narrative to legitimize its military threats against Taiwan. Hung Pu-chao frankly stated that Taiwan has never had an issue of independence; what truly exists is China's intention to invade Taiwan. The so-called 'peaceful unification' and 'anti-Taiwan independence' are political languages used by China to package its aggressive ambitions.

Regarding the different definitions of 'Taiwan independence' among the US, China, and Taiwan, Yeh Yao-yuan, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of St. Thomas, analyzed that from the US perspective, as long as the status quo of cross-strait relations is not changed, there is no issue of Taiwan independence, and the US has never believed that Taiwan's recent policies are moving towards independence. However, in China's eyes, as long as Taiwan does not acknowledge itself as a province of China and is unwilling to move towards unification, it is engaging in Taiwan independence. According to China's framework, over 95% of the Taiwanese population is working towards Taiwan independence. Therefore, Taiwan is not facing a choice of independence, but the bullying of China's continuous attempts to unify Taiwan.

Wu Guan-sheng, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Political Science at the University of South Alabama, added from an international law perspective that according to the criteria of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, Taiwan possesses territory, people, sovereignty, and diplomatic capacity, and is already a sovereign and independent state under international law. Wu Guan-sheng further clarified the 'doubt America' theory, pointing out that not a single word in the US 'Taiwan Relations Act' opposes Taiwan's independence. What the US truly opposes is changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait through coercion or non-peaceful means.

Tsai Rong-hsiang, Professor of Political Science at National Chung Cheng University, said that the core consensus of Taiwanese society is to maintain the current state of freedom and democracy. However, KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, during her recent visit to the US, made remarks about 'both sides of the Taiwan Strait belonging to one China,' even transforming the '1992 Consensus' into 'each side having its own interpretation of one China.' This is far from the majority public opinion in Taiwan.

Chen Shih-min, Associate Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan University, pointed out that the so-called 'being unified' means Taiwan being annexed under the People's Republic of China. If domestic politicians echo 'both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China' and package surrender as peace, it will bring great danger to Taiwan. Because when Taiwan itself shows willingness to be part of China, the international community will lose the reason to intervene.

Shen Yu-chung, Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, emphasized in his speech that the CCP's recent implementation of so-called 'special enforcement' in our eastern waters, expanding 'grey zone' harassment, is entirely self-deception and a lie, attempting to change the status quo and disrupt regional stability. Taiwan is not seeking legal independence; it is only facing the threat of authoritarian unification. The people should unite across party lines and use their strength to defend their sovereignty and free democratic way of life.