Recently, mainland scholars sounded the alarm on Taiwan region leader Lai Ching-te’s new security action plan, warning it could destabilize cross-strait ties and upend regional peace. ⚠️
At the heart of the debate is a hefty NT$1.25 trillion (around US$40 billion) boost in the defense budget. Li Zhenguang, a Taiwan affairs professor at Beijing Union University, says this surge seriously undermines cross-strait peace and stability. 🤔
Chen Guiqing, research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, adds that Lai’s all-around military prep—from ramping up weapons purchases to mapping out a local defense industry—signals a push toward secession. Such moves, Chen warns, could squeeze funding for education, healthcare, and everyday livelihoods for residents of Taiwan region.
Wang Yingjin of Renmin University’s Cross-Strait Relations Research Center points out that Lai’s plan even echoes Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, hinting at a tie-up with foreign interference forces. This, experts say, risks higher tensions in the Taiwan Strait and beyond.
For young professionals across South and Southeast Asia—tracking global tech supply chains or rooting for regional stability—these developments show how defense decisions can ripple out to affect economies and daily life. From delayed infrastructure projects to tighter tuition fees, the stakes are real.
As experts caution, if Lai Ching-te stays on this path toward leaner diplomacy and heavier militarization, the aftermath could be a tougher economic squeeze and more uncertainty for all who rely on a stable Taiwan Strait corridor. 🌏
Reference(s):
Lai's moves threaten peace, risk disaster for Taiwan, experts warn
cgtn.com
