In testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee on March 9, 2021, Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned about the "rapid and comprehensive military modernization" of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), adding that the PRC could attempt to conquer Taiwan by the end of the decade.[1] In a response the next day, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the CCP state-run media outlet Global Times, published an opinion piece stating that Adm. Davidson's testimony demonstrates "how anxious the U.S. is" about the PLA and praised the Chinese army's deterrence capabilities. Although the mainland "still sticks to its policy of peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, Hu wrote, Beijing dares to resort to force when necessary.
Following is Hu Xijin's article, titled "Taiwan's DPP Should Draw Lessons From HK Extreme Opposition Forces' Ending:"[2]
(Source: Facebook)
'Taiwan Authorities Must Be Quite Terrified Now'
"Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme - Hong Kong's extreme opposition forces have despised this fact. They acted arrogantly, and then they faced the national security law for Hong Kong. Hong Kong's situation completely reversed. Hopefully, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities can seriously draw lessons from this and stop repeating the same foolish mistakes of Hong Kong's extreme opposition forces.[3]
"The DPP authorities are trying to adopt the 'salami cutting tactics' toward Taiwan secessionism. They believe that the Chinese mainland cannot do anything about them, and that they have U.S. support. They should not act recklessly or go too far. The mainland still sticks to its policy of peaceful reunification and it has not used any real tough measure. But if the mainland makes up its mind to take actions, it will not care about the Taiwan military's deterrence or the U.S.' so-called support at all. The situation may change suddenly overnight.
"DPP authorities should be realistic and meet the mainland's cross-Straits policies halfway. When it is time to take a step back, the DPP should have the courage to do so instead of blindly acting tough. This will be good for Taiwan and it will also be the best for the DPP itself.
"One should not say that warnings from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan's DPP authorities are not working. I have to say the warnings have powerful effects.
"Especially in the second half of 2020, the military preparations from the mainland and the demonstration of such preparations greatly deterred people like Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen. They have also sent a clear message to Washington that the Chinese mainland dares to resort to force when necessary.
"As a result of such deterrence from the mainland, former U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo did not dare to visit the island before he left the U.S. Department of State. Another scenario could be, he may have proposed to pay a visit, yet Taiwan didn't dare to receive him.
"Taiwan authorities must be quite terrified now, and they will probably be more careful in the future. They will repeat some of their previous rhetoric to cover up their timidity. But they have no gut to take any substantial step forward.
"That is because they now believe that warplanes of Chinese People's Liberation Army are ready to fly over the island at any time, and that if they cross the red line, the mainland is completely prepared to teach them a hard lesson until the Taiwan question is finally solved in one fell swoop.
"A strong deterrent is a cornerstone of achieving victory without fighting. As the Chinese mainland has taken the initiative of the contest between both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the U.S. is now anxious stealthily. Taiwan authorities are trembling in secret.
"Even if the U.S. proposes to 'establish diplomatic relations' with the Taiwan island, Tsai will not dare to accept the proposal, because she knows that will be the end of the DPP authorities. On Tuesday [March 9, 2021], the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Phillip Davidson said, 'Taiwan is clearly one of their [China's] ambitions… And I think the threat is manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years.' This is a prediction from the U.S. side. It shows how anxious the U.S. is.
"We Chinese people from the mainland should keep calm and believe in our country's strategic will and strategy. We should believe that the island of Taiwan will never be split away from China."
[1] Armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/21-03-09-united-states-indo-pacific-command, March 9, 2021.
[2] Globaltimes.cn, March 10, 2021.
[3] The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is Taiwan's ruling political party, headed by Tsai Ing-wen, who is also the President of Taiwan. Most countries in the world do not recognize the island's sovereignty due to pressure from the CCP-led PRC, which claims it as a rogue province, hence the moniker "Taiwan authorities."
