Recently, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a two-day military exercise around Taiwan. In response, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated on May 26th that he was still ready to work with China, despite this week’s military drills around the self-ruled island. President Lai Ching-te looks forward to enhancing mutual understanding, comprehension, forgiveness, and reconciliation between the two sides through communication and cooperation, creating a mutually beneficial situation, and moving towards peace and prosperity together.

Motivation behind the Military Exercise

The scale of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s “Joint Sword” military exercise was reduced compared to 2022, and the duration of the exercise was also shortened. The main reason is that the 2022 military exercise had too broad a scope, attracting widespread international attention, particularly exacerbating the already strained relations between China and Japan. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also feared that its exercise activities would be detected by the US military radar base in northern Philippines, affecting its strategic deployment.

In this exercise, the missiles launched by the CCP became hypothetical enemies testing the joint combat capabilities of US, Taiwanese, Filipino, and Japanese radar bases within the first island chain. Through this exercise, relevant parties collected valuable intelligence on the positions and parameters of the 11 missiles launched by the CCP, providing valuable data support for future defense and response measures.

International Response

Faced with China’s military exercises, the international community has expressed concerns about and support for the situation in the Taiwan Strait. On May 20th, the United States deployed four aircraft carriers overseas, with the Eisenhower stationed in the Middle East, the Reagan in Japan, the Roosevelt in Singapore, and the Lincoln heading to the East Pacific region. In addition, the USS America (LHA-6) is docked in Sasebo. These deployments demonstrate the strong military presence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and its keen attention to regional security situations.

During this period, US President Biden emphasized America’s steadfast commitment to upholding the interests of allies and regional security in his speech at West Point Military Academy. He stated that the United States will continue to cooperate with allies and partner countries to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This statement not only strongly supports Taiwan but also reaffirms the entire regional security architecture.

President Lai Ching-te expressed his gratitude in his speech to US President Biden, the US government and Congress, and the countries around the world for their firm support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. In his inauguration speech on May 20th, he mentioned that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential elements of global security and prosperity. Any country causing turbulence in the Taiwan Strait and affecting regional stability will face resistance and opposition from the international community. He emphasized, “Taiwan appreciates the support of the international community, especially the firm stance of the United States. We are willing to take up our responsibility and cooperate with all countries committed to regional peace to jointly maintain stability in this region.”

Potential for Cross-Strait Exchange and Cooperation

Despite the political, economic, and military differences between the two sides, enhancing mutual understanding, comprehension, and forgiveness through communication and cooperation remains an important path to achieve peace and prosperity. President Lai Ching-te emphasized that Taiwan is willing to engage in communication and cooperation with mainland China on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, contributing to regional stability and development. This not only serves the common interests of people on both sides but also helps maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

President Lai Ching-te also called on mainland China and Taiwan to jointly shoulder the important responsibility of maintaining regional stability. He eagerly anticipates that through cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, both sides can deepen their understanding, enhance mutual trust, create a mutually beneficial situation, and move towards peace and prosperity together.

Reaction of Chinese “Little Pinks”

Although this military exercise has sparked irrational reactions from some Chinese nationalists (commonly referred to as “Little Pinks”) domestically, who have vigorously promoted so-called “unification” speeches online, it must be explicitly stated that the conclusion of the exercise does not mean that China has occupied Taiwan. Taiwan still maintains its freedom and autonomy.

Furthermore, regarding the pressure on Taiwanese artists online, requiring them to explicitly express support for unification and oppose Taiwan independence, we should maintain rationality and tolerance. Taiwanese people have the right to support and like any artists, even if they express support for unification or hold Chinese citizenship. Because Taiwan is a free country, these artists will not be banned from performing rights in Taiwan due to their statements. In contrast, in China, artists often face censorship if they do not express support for unification. This difference reflects the different approaches to freedom of speech and the protection of artists’ rights between the two sides of the strait.

Anticipated Chinese Response to Call for Peaceful Cooperation

In responding to Lai Ching-te’s call for peaceful cooperation, China may adopt various non-military actions, including diplomatic and economic measures. Diplomatically, China may strengthen civilian exchanges and communication channels with Taiwan, attempting to influence Taiwanese public opinion through soft power. Additionally, China may promote more cross-strait economic cooperation projects to reduce tensions between the two sides and increase their economic interdependence.

In the economic field, China may relax market access for Taiwanese companies and products, encourage trade and investment between the two sides, and promote improvement in cross-strait relations with economic interests as the link. At the same time, China may also utilize regional economic cooperation frameworks such as RCEP to provide more cooperation opportunities, attracting Taiwan to join the process of regional economic integration.

However, future cross-strait relations may still face the risk of non-military conflicts. China may file a complaint against Taiwan at the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing Taiwan of violating the spirit of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and setting trade barriers against Chinese products. This economic confrontation may escalate tensions between the two sides on the international trade stage, increasing the uncertainty of cross-strait relations.

Conclusion

In the face of the complex and ever-changing international situation, Taiwan and China should, based on peaceful coexistence, resolve differences through dialogue and cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and move towards peace and prosperity together. Specific steps such as establishing regular diplomatic communication channels, resuming cross-strait talks, and initiating confidence-building measures can pave the way for constructive dialogue. Economic collaboration initiatives, including trade agreements, investment partnerships, and joint development projects, offer mutual benefits in terms of economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement. Furthermore, cultural exchanges, educational programs, and people-to-people interactions can foster understanding and goodwill between the two sides.

By promoting dialogue and cooperation, both Taiwan and China can address common challenges and seize opportunities for development. Emphasizing the potential benefits of such collaboration, such as economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional stability, is crucial. Economic cooperation can lead to shared prosperity, while cultural exchanges can enrich the diversity of both societies. Moreover, enhanced communication and mutual understanding can contribute to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the prevention of conflicts in the region.

President Lai Ching-te’s speech not only expresses Taiwan’s expectations for peace but also provides new ideas and directions for the future development of cross-strait relations. By embracing the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, Taiwan and China can build a foundation for lasting peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. It is through cooperation and collaboration that both sides can overcome differences and work towards a shared vision of stability and prosperity.