Editor's Note: Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's speech on Thursday, which was a self-proclaimed championing of "peace and democracy", is poised to exacerbate cross-Strait tensions and expose the island to significant risks. Experts share their views on Lai's speech with China Daily. Excerpts follow:

'Victim card' to draw West's sympathy

After taking office, Lai Ching-te's first "Oct 10 Speech" coincided with a crucial moment in the upcoming US presidential election. Therefore, his speech did not directly provoke cross-Strait relations with more radical expressions. Instead, he stuck to the "two-state theory" tone he had set during his "inaugural speech" while focusing on promoting "national normalization" as the main theme. He called for unity within the island, increasing Taiwan's exposure internationally, and continued to emphasize the "Chinese mainland's threats" in cross-Strait relations. His aim was to create a sense of victimhood to garner sympathy from anti-China forces in the West.

In his speech, Lai Ching-te advocated for "further assuming Taiwan's significant geopolitical responsibilities and maintaining the current peaceful and stable situation in the Taiwan Strait". He claimed that Taiwan holds important geopolitical responsibilities and emphasized Taiwan's willingness to contribute to regional peace and stability. However, "geopolitical responsibilities" are merely a cover-up for his plan to seek independence through external forces while resisting reunification. By emphasizing Taiwan's importance in the region, he wants to make the island's residents believe that Taiwan can find its place in the complex international environment under his leadership. In reality, this approach will only worsen the situation in the Taiwan Strait, leading to more instability and danger in cross-Strait relations.

Zhu Songling is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Beijing Union University.

Lai's actions detrimental to island's economy

As the current leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te's words and actions are always in the spotlight, and his speech on Oct 10 has a negative bearing on cross-Strait ties. In conjunction with his "motherland fallacy" speech on Oct 5, Lai Ching-te deliberately seeks to sever the historical connection between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, using "Taiwan independence" as a political bargaining chip.

The substantial sale of military equipment to Taiwan has also fueled "doubts about the US" in the minds of the island's tax-payers. The US government recently approved about $567 million in military aid to China's Taiwan region, but its delivery is, as always, delayed. A recent study by the Cato Institute, a US think tank, pointed out that the US owes Taiwan military sales worth $20.53 billion. That means a huge amount of money has been totally wasted on military sales.

In his speech on Thursday, Lai once again pledged to enhance Taiwan's economy and elevate the standard of living of its people. If his statements hold true, he should recognize that maintaining stable cross-Strait relations is crucial for Taiwan's economic progress. Regrettably, Lai's actions are paradoxical as he is slowly eroding Taiwan's economic stability.

According to the mainland's official statistics, from January to August this year, the total import and export trade volume between the mainland and Taiwan increased by 9.2 percent year-on-year. Economic cooperation between the two sides is bringing huge opportunities and benefits, and any action that disrupts the stability of cross-Strait relations could have a negative impact on economic growth.

Wang Shacheng is director of the Taiwan Economic Research Institute at the Central University of Finance and Economics

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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Taiwan question totally China's domestic issue

The "Taiwan independence" mindset is blatantly obvious in Lai Ching-te's speech. Preventing national division is the responsibility of any sovereign state. International organizations including the United Nations recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government of China. Therefore, how the Chinese mainland deals with the Taiwan question is a domestic issue that other countries and organizations have no right to interfere with.

By telling the mainland not to conduct military exercises in response to Lai Ching-te's speech, some foreign politicians are actually interfering in China's internal affairs, with the intention of internationalizing the Taiwan question, obstructing China's reunification, and benefiting from the meddling.

From any perspective, "Taiwan independence" leads to a dead end. The mindset, glossed over eloquent words, cannot impede the inevitable reunification of China. The Chinese mainland consistently advocates peaceful reunification, but Lai's repeated comments and agitation from the West, especially the US, has deepened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Regardless of how Lai Ching-te sugarcoats "Taiwan independence" or how some foreign politicians try to abuse the "Taiwan card", the Chinese mainland has its own strategy for handling the Taiwan question and there is no need for foreign interference.

Liu Qiang is the director of the Academic Council and a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Center for RimPac Strategic and International Studies

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.