Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT

On June 29, Lai Ching-te delivered the third of his so-called "10 lectures on unity" in Hsinchu, China's Taiwan region, once again staging a farcical performance typical of "Taiwan independence" separatists. Cloaked in lofty rhetoric, his speech attempted to dress up his separatist agenda and embellish the illusion of "Taiwan independence." However, the facts are unshakable. This so-called "third lecture" is nothing but a mobilization order for "Taiwan independence" under the guise of legal discourse, aimed squarely at drumming up publicity for a politically motivated campaign to push for the "mass recall" - regardless of the abyss of division and confrontation it may lead the island into.

Continuing the absurdity of the first and second lectures, Lai's third speech turned into yet another "ideological seminar on Taiwan independence." Lai touted Taiwan's "constitutional system" as the basis for what he calls a "national system," attempting to dress "Taiwan independence" in a cloak of legality. Such a ludicrous claim is a blatant affront to both historical facts and present realities. Since ancient times, Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China. There is no so-called constitution that exists outside the framework of one China. Lai's disregard for historical truth is nothing more than a self-deceiving political ploy with no legal foundation whatsoever.

Lai's sinister intent in this speech also lies in once again labeling the Chinese mainland as a "hostile external force," deliberately stoking a narrative of cross-Straits confrontation and division to lay a false ideological foundation for his "Taiwan independence" agenda. The series of concepts he has fabricated are nothing more than an attempt to distort the island's political agenda into a "Taiwan independence" agenda, and to manipulate public opinion into so-called "pro-independence" sentiment. His call for the residents in Taiwan to "stand up for the nation's safety" is, in essence, a rallying cry for turning the entire population into soldiers - mobilizing 23 million people as cannon fodder for his "Taiwan independence" scheme. Such moves have nothing to do with democracy or freedom, and even less to do with people's livelihoods and well-being. They serve only to advance his separatist agenda of "Taiwan independence."

With less than a month to go before the Lai authorities forcibly push the so-called "mass recall" campaign on the island, the latest polls show public dissatisfaction with Lai has surged to 46.8 percent. Many respondents have openly questioned the real intent behind his lectures. 

Poll experts on the island believe that in light of the diminishing public support for the "mass recall" campaign, Lai is seeking to boost votes by delivering "10 lectures on unity," which are essentially a "Taiwan independence" manifesto. This approach will inevitably turn the "mass recall" into a "mass division."

The so-called "10 lectures on unity" are nothing more than self-hypnosis for "Taiwan independence" delusions, and a significant number of residents on the island hold skeptical and critical views toward it. The third of the "10 lectures on unity" delivered by Lai on June 29 was criticized by the Kuomintang as highlighting the "arrogance of the ruling party," arguing that during his more than a year in office, he has only exhibited double standards, lied, and created divisions. The Taiwan People's Party sharply pointed out that Lai is not the "good doctor" to cure the ills of democracy; instead, he has "driven Taiwan's democracy into intensive care."

In fact, the Lai authorities' judicial persecution of political opponents and their "green cleansing" of the media have turned Taiwan's "democratic freedom" into a laughingstock. The rhetoric surrounding the so-called "constitutional system" is merely a cover for the DPP's "green dictatorship" and is at odds with the true spirit of constitutionalism.

Looking at Lai's "three lectures" so far, their core message is nothing more than a variety of ways to promote "Taiwan independence," using absurd logic to manipulate public opinion on the island, with an ultimate goal of serving his political interests. Since the DPP came to power, it has continuously manipulated the "de-Sinicization" agenda and incited "anti-China" sentiments, resulting in increased social division and a freeze in cross-Straits relations. Lai repeatedly claims to "unite the country," yet he creates division in the process, using the guise of "democracy" to conceal the essence of separation. Each of his "lectures" plants more seeds of unrest on the island and erects more barriers of confrontation across the Taiwan Straits. Such "unity" is merely a political gamble that undermines its own foundation.

The future and destiny of Taiwan have never been something that a small number of "Taiwan independence" separatists can manipulate; they will be jointly decided by over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan. Lai's frantic antics have resulted in political chaos on the island; in fact, this is because he has deeply felt the unstoppable momentum toward reunification and is making a desperate struggle. The so-called "10 lectures on unity" are destined to become a failed one-man show.