A teacher from Taipei slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's 'hostile external force' remark, saying Lai's separatist position distorts the roots of history, cultural origins, and bloodline of people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
At a press conference last Thursday, Lai portrayed the mainland as a "hostile external force" and outlined 17 strategies to counter the so-called threats facing the island. People from various sectors in Taiwan have expressed strong concerns over his statements, warning such comments could lead to escalated tension and standstill of cross-Strait exchanges.
In an interview with China Media Group, Ou Kuei-chih, a teacher of Taipei First Girls' High School, said, "He (Lai Ching-te) is labeling our fellow compatriots as 'hostile external force.' For those of us with relatives on the mainland, how are we supposed to face our family? Is he trying to replay the tragedy from over forty years ago? My parents' generation lived through that. My parents didn't even know when my grandparents passed away, let alone attend the funerals. Perhaps he's trying to gradually push toward his 'pragmatic Taiwan independence.' But in reality, his idea of 'Taiwan independence' distorts the roots of our history, our cultural origins, and our bloodline," Ou said.
As a school teacher, she expressed concerns about education policies aimed at removing Chinese cultural elements from the curriculum and sowing discord between the compatriots from across the Strait.
"The students are already ignorant of history, indifferent to culture. Now, Lai Ching-te wants them to cut ties with their bloodline too, using political power to pressure these young people to sever their family bonds. I just want to ask, how can he be so cold-hearted? If the mainland is a 'hostile force,' does that mean I can't visit my mother on the mainland anymore? Or my mother can't go back to Taiwan? I want to ask Lai, does he want to cut the bond between a mother and daughter? (If) my mother and I have to turn against each other, how can I face my ancestors? Doesn't Lai Ching-te himself have ancestors to face? I just want to ask: Where is his conscience? Does he want us to keep being stuck in the same old tragedy? I don't want that," she said.
Taipei teacher slams Lai Ching-te's separatist statements
The Trump administration's move to cut public funding for the Voice of America (VOA), a propaganda tool for the U.S. government, is due to competing interests and struggles between different political factions, a Chinese expert said during an interview on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order, which listed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of VOA, as part of "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy.
More than 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, producers and assistants, were reportedly placed on administrative leave on Saturday.
Diao Daming, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China, shared his insights on why Trump halted funding for the agency during his second term.
"He feels that VOA has not effectively fulfilled its mission to make the United States great again and serve the country's interests. On the other hand, public opinion institutions under the USAGM, including VOA, have been openly critical of Trump, his team, and his administration, particularly regarding certain policies during his first term. After assuming office for a second term, Trump swiftly implemented this tough measure, which is evidently influenced by competing interests and struggles between different political factions," said Diao.
Founded in 1942, the VOA has long served as a political tool for the U.S. government, engaging in ideological confrontation and shaping public opinion. For over 80 years, regardless of whether the Democratic or Republican Party was in power, funding for institutions like VOA remained uninterrupted.
Experts described the VOA as a propaganda machine aimed at ideological infiltration in certain regions, as many of its programs are inaccessible within the United States and are instead broadcast exclusively to specific countries abroad.
"In the past, when I served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, I encountered VOA reporters at domestic events, international conferences, and various occasions. They would, for example, selectively ask questions during interviews, selectively edit our responses, and then selectively report and broadcast them. Given such practices, how much credibility can VOA really have?" said Yang Yujun, dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs at the Communication University of China.
Trump's cut to VOA due to struggles between different political factions: expert
