Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Click here to stay tuned with our live updates on Ukraine tensions.

As the situation in Ukraine is heating up, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan island has again popped into the spotlight, claiming they "empathize with Ukraine's situation." Joseph Wu, leader of the external affairs authority, said he hoped international society would continue providing weapons to Taiwan to deter a mainland "invasion" of the island. 

The Ukraine crisis has touched a raw nerve in DPP authority. Their deep fear of being abandoned by the US has resurfaced. They can only cover up their fear by self-deception and embolden themselves like whistling at night. What we see is that the DPP authority failed to grasp the right message from the Ukraine crisis, but have gone further in the wrong direction. 

There is probably no such word as "self-knowledge" in the dictionary of the DPP authority. They are unqualified to take advantage of the Ukraine issue to attract attention. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a widely recognized norm of international relations. China will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from it. Our will and ability in this regard are beyond all doubt. At the dead end of Taiwan secessionist road are PLA's relentless measures. The cause of reunification of the Chinese nation is fundamentally different from the regional conflict. 

However, the performance of the US after the Ukraine crisis could serve as a warning to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces: Washington is not reliable. The US regards Ukraine as a pawn against Russia. In order to woo Ukraine, Washington claimed it "stands with Ukraine," and repeatedly promised it would protect Ukraine at critical junctures. But now the one that suffers is still Kiev. Hasn't the world seen enough of the US breaking its promises?

DPP authority always tend to trumpet in a particularly high profile that the US will definitely "protect" Taiwan. It also comes up with analyses such as "PLA will face more difficulties in fighting in the Taiwan Straits." This is a pale bluff, behind which is lack of confidence: "the US may abandon Taiwan." The DPP authority and Taiwan secessionists have totally pinned their own fate on the protection of the US, just like a drowning man will clutch at a straw. It's not difficult to tell that they are not confident.

Last year, when the US abandoned Afghanistan's former government, the island of Taiwan was silent, and people could almost hear DPP politicians' heartbeats. After the US pushed Ukraine into war, it stepped aside and left Ukraine alone to bear the burden. The DPP authority can't keep calm any longer. They can't bear the complete collapse of the bubble of "US protection," which is their spiritual backbone. They couldn't help but feel uneasy, so they repeatedly talked about Taiwan's "significance" and "specificity" to the US, fantasizing that they would be an "exception."

The DPP authority pretending to be asleep can't be woken up, but more ordinary people on the island have seen through the situation. Some netizens said bluntly, "Those who think that the US would send troops to protect Taiwan are just dreaming. Their belief in lies from low-level politicians with no integrity only proves their stupidity." The promise of the US is unreliable, and Washington's political selfishness is hidden behind it. Taiwan is just a pawn in Washington's game against China. How can US soldiers work themselves to the bone for a "pawn?" These facts cannot be dodged, and sooner or later they will give the DPP authority a blow.

It must be stressed that the root of the DPP authority's unease comes from its obsession with seeking "independence." The red line drawn by the Chinese mainland for "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces is already there. Every time they take a step forward, they will be shocked, and worried that when they wake up, Chinese People's Liberation Army fighter jets are already flying overhead. We have never given up the goodwill of peaceful reunification. But if "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces misjudge this goodwill and attempt to gain a sense of security by riding the US' coattails and reinforcing Taiwan's military forces, they should get ready for a tragic end. There is only one option for Taiwan's future, and that is to achieve reunification with the mainland.