The strongest of all warriors are two—time and Patience, wrote Tolstoy [War and Peace]. Time and patience are not merely abstract concepts; they are vital components of successful operations and strategies. The ability to maneuver in time and with patience requires vision and ideas. It requires a great skill to know when to act and when to wait. In geopolitics, time and patience are the most precious assets.
Lai’s speech
In his speech, Lai stated that “the People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.” He emphasized that his mission as a leader was to ensure that “the sovereignty of the nation will not be violated.” However, Lai’s separatist rhetoric seeking so-called “sovereignty and national identity” under the guise of his commitment “to maintain the status quo of peace and stability” is stirring up dangerous turbulence in the Taiwan Strait.
The reality of international law and the issue of Taiwan
The return of Taiwan to China was a component of the international order after World War II – this was signed in the Cairo Declaration of 1943 and the Potsdam Proclamation of 1945. According to the “one China” principle, there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The 26th session of the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 in 1971, expelling Taiwan authorities’ representatives and restoring the PRC government’s seat and all legal rights to the UN. The fact that Taiwan is part of China is a basic fact recognized by the international community. Around the world, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of this principle, showing that the one-China principle represents a global trend.
China’s position and official reactions
For official Beijing, the Taiwan issue involves China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and is at the center of China’s core interests. The central government will never allow “Taiwan independence.”
