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Analysts see Lai Ching-te's separatist statements as challenge to mainland's red line

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      China

      China

      Analysts see Lai Ching-te's separatist statements as challenge to mainland's red line

      2025-03-16 01:15 Last Updated At:02:17

      Analysts have warned that the separatist statements made recently by leader of Taiwan region Lai Ching-te constitute a challenge to the bottom line and the red line of the mainland.

      On Thursday, the eve of the 20th anniversary of the implementation of China's Anti-Secession Law, Lai held a meeting in which he portrayed the mainland as a "hostile external force" and outlined 17 strategies to counter the so-called threats facing the island.

      "There is no doubt that the Lai Ching-te authorities' actions are an attempt to challenge the bottom line and the red line of the mainland, especially Article 8 of the Anti-Secession Law. His actions are indeed extremely dangerous," said Zhang Hua, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

      "We must carefully analyze whether his actions have touched Article 8 of the Anti-Secession Law, that is, 'the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' The more rambunctious Lai Ching-te becomes, the faster we will see a solution of the Taiwan question and achieve unification," said Zhu Songling, a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Beijing Union University.

      Article 8 of the law states that the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the event that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted.

      Analysts said Lai's separatist actions would push Taiwan closer to the brink of conflict.

      His proposal to "reinstate military tribunals" is viewed as a strategic move to suppress political opponents on the island which further reveals his anxiety and insecurity, analysts said.

      "Lai Ching-te's intensified incitement against the mainland cannot be ruled out as a strategic foreshadowing laid by him to suppress political dissidents on the island," said Chen Chao, deputy director of the Center for Taiwan Studies, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

      "Lai Ching-te is very anxious because his public support in the Taiwan region has continued to plunge. Polls conducted last month showed that public support for Lai was approaching a 'death cross' where the opposition outnumbers the support. So he resorted to provoking confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," Zhang Hua said.

      Analysts see Lai Ching-te's separatist statements as challenge to mainland's red line

      Analysts see Lai Ching-te's separatist statements as challenge to mainland's red line

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      Russia shoots down Ukrainian drones; Ukraine continues defensive operations in Kursk

      2025-03-18 04:14 Last Updated At:06:17

      Russia announced on Monday that its forces shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones in the Kursk region, while Ukraine reported that its forces were conducting defensive operations as planned in Kursk.

      The Russian Defense Ministry specified in a statement that from 18:20 Sunday to 07:00 Monday, its air defense system shot down a total of 72 Ukrainian drones in many locations, including 36 over the Kursk Oblast.

      The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Monday morning that a total of 112 battles had taken place in frontline areas in the past 24 hours, including 14 battles in the Kursk region.

      In a media interview on Sunday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine was carrying out defensive operations in the Kursk region as planned, and the information that thousands of Ukrainian troops were surrounded was "incorrect."

      The Ukrainian National News Agency reported on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from Sudzha, a border city in the southwest of Kursk Oblast, less than 10 kilometers away from Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. The Ukrainian army used Sudzha as a major logistics hub to provide supplies to troops in nearby villages and towns.

      According to Russian media reports, the Ukrainian forces are still attacking Sudzha and surrounding areas with artillery and drones, in order to cover the withdrawal of the remaining troops.

      Russia shoots down Ukrainian drones; Ukraine continues defensive operations in Kursk

      Russia shoots down Ukrainian drones; Ukraine continues defensive operations in Kursk

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