The Ukrainian crisis is heating up, and public opinion sometimes compares the situation between Ukraine and Taiwan. Cui Hongjian, director of the European Institute of the China Institute of International Studies, published a signed article in Lu Media, arguing that linking Taiwan with Ukraine is a discourse trap.
Cui Hongjian commented in the mainland’s Global Times that the Ukrainian crisis, in which the United States, Russia and Europe are deeply involved, has become the biggest geopolitical hotspot at the moment. The Ukraine crisis has been compared to the Taiwan issue. American public opinion and the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party authorities are the strongest advocates of this argument. And when they compare Ukraine with Taiwan, they hide the preconditions and actually set up a “discourse trap”.
He said that the logic of some US politicians and media’s linking Ukraine with Taiwan is simple, and they are still trying to sell to the international community the argument of democracy once morest tyranny. They claim that China and Russia are threatening the existence of two “democratic countries”, Taiwan and Ukraine, with similar military means. Therefore, whether the United States cooperates with its allies to wrestle with Russia (competition or wrestling), or gathers partners to contain China, All have the legitimacy of “maintaining international order and defending democratic values”.
Cui Hongjian said that they have some dark psychology in spreading this argument, worrying that the mainland will take advantage of the confrontation between the United States and Russia in Ukraine to “suddenly use force to recover Taiwan”, which will undoubtedly make the United States focus on this and the other on the strategic chessboard, and it will not be able to “protect Ukraine.” ” and unable to “assist in the defense of Taiwan.” Therefore, the comparison of Ukraine and Taiwan by the United States is not only motivated by strong ideological propaganda, but also for the purpose of preventing simultaneous changes in Europe and Asia and disrupting the strategic layout to create diplomatic public opinion.
He believes that the DPP authorities are paying attention to the situation in Ukraine and “taking the right seat” to see how determined the United States is to “defend the democratic regime”, and to seek further protection from the United States. Although the hasty withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan has alarmed the “Taiwan independence” forces, a recent poll in Taiwan still shows that more than 50% of Taiwanese people still believe that the United States will send troops to save Taiwan. If the U.S. just scorns the Ukraine issue and finally abandons it, it will not only be a repeat of the “Kabul moment”, but also a strategic defeat of the U.S. in the core area. The “Taiwan independence” forces want to continue to take shelter under the protection of U.S. security. The dream will dissipate in a blink of an eye, and the Taiwanese people’s understanding of foreign forces’ rescue of Taiwan will be closer to the truth.
Cui Hongjian pointed out that the United States is held back by the security chaos in Europe and its strategic resource allocation is in a bad way. In reality, it is indeed beneficial to China’s strategic environment, but comparing Ukraine with Taiwan should not be the starting point for China to view the strategic landscape and resolve the Taiwan issue.
He believes that comparing Ukraine and Taiwan hides three preconditions: one is to treat both as a so-called “democratic country”, the second is to confuse domestic and diplomatic means, and the third is to regard both Ukraine and Taiwan as a game of great powers piece.
Cui Hongjian said that the Ukraine issue is, in the final analysis, a diplomatic and security issue in the context of the game of great powers. Even with the complicated historical latitude and longitude of the Crimea issue at that time, it cannot change the nature of the current Ukraine issue. The unification of Taiwan is an uncompromising issue of China’s internal affairs. To confuse the two will inevitably fall into the discourse trap of equating Taiwan with a “country.” The goal is also the real intention of the United States desperately trying to intervene to muddy the water.
He also said that Ukraine may not be able to escape the fate of becoming a pawn or a pawn in the game of great powers, but the Taiwan issue cannot be transformed into a pawn in the game between China and the United States following the strategic rhythm of the United States. Weakening the legitimacy and diversity of means for the mainland to resolve the Taiwan issue. On the Taiwan issue, the mainland still needs to take a multi-pronged approach to ensure the smooth and orderly progress of the great cause of national reunification.
