M’land’s Doves Take Tougher Stances, Scholars Say “Taiwan Being Reunified” Accelerates

M’land’s Doves Take Tougher Stances, Scholars Say “Taiwan Being Reunified” Accelerates

Source: UDN & China Times

January 15, 2020

After President Tsai was re-elected, several Mainland scholars expressed their opinions. Zhou Zhihuai (周志懷), former director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies under Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), indicated that under the continued administration of the DPP, the progression for reunification of both sides would be accelerated.

In fact, Zhou was earlier seen as a dove, but his rhetoric turned hardened since 2016. In recent years, voices from hawks in Mainland think tanks on Taiwan affairs, among them even those calling for unification by force, became stronger.

Zhu Weidong (朱衛東), deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies under CASS, stated that the reelection of Tsai was “short-term pain, long-term gain”. In terms of “short-term pain”, the DPP’s continued administration was not conducive to the wholesome development of cross-Strait relations. As for “long-term gain”, it meant that in the context where “the Mainland is strong, Taiwan is weak”, the Mainland would have more tools for promoting integration and reunification.

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