Xi could escalate ‘gray zone’ action in 4th term
By Chung Li-hua and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) would intensify “gray zone” activities around Taiwan during his fourth term, further undermining regional stability, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said on Saturday.
Xi is expected to secure a fourth five-year term at the 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party next year.
As a free and democratic country, Taiwan has followed a starkly different national development than authoritarian China, Chiu said at the Chungshan Youth Academic Conference hosted by the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and National Sun Yat-sen University.
Chinese President Xi Jinping listens to a speech during a plenary session of the Chinese National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March.
Photo: AP
Since Xi took power, China has failed to achieve freedom and democracy, instead regressing into an authoritarian system like that which Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙), a founder of the Republic of China, sought to overthrow, Chiu said.
China has shown three extreme political trends in the past 10 years, including centralizing power and shifting it largely onto one person, promoting fervent nationalism that fuels a provocative foreign policy and framing taking over Taiwan as a historic mission, he said.
China has tightened its authoritarian grip at home, while using nationalism to drive military expansion in the region, pushing the country toward an unprecedented form of “new totalitarianism,” he said.
While China claims that different forms of government are not an obstacle to unification, these differences are the root of cross-strait divisions, Chiu said.
Taiwanese chose a free and democratic way of life that they are not willing to give up, he said.
During his fourth term, Xi would step up “gray zone” activity aimed at expanding China’s jurisdiction in the region, following an approach of “governing before unification,” he said.
Xi would also seek international recognition of his territorial claims and push more actively for a “one country, two systems” framework with Taiwan, he added.
China plans to hold events marking Sun’s 160th birthday this year, as it continues to distort Sun’s views to promote unification and integration with Taiwan, Chiu said.
People engaging in cross-strait exchanges should follow regulations and be aware of mainstream sentiment, he said, urging them not to echo China’s interpretation of history and become tools for Beijing’s “united front” efforts.
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