‘Don’t Be Delusional,’ Taiwan Warns China Amid Afghanistan Comparisons

By John Feng
17 August 2021

Excerpt

Asked whether President Tsai Ing-wen and her cabinet would flee the island in the event of an imminent attack, Su Tseng-chang, Taiwan’s 74-year-old premier, offered a resolute response.

“When the Chinese Nationalist Party installed authoritarian rule and 38 years of martial law in Taiwan, we lived through martial law without fear of death or imprisonment. We opened the door of democracy for Taiwan,” he told reporters.

“Today, a powerful country wants to annex Taiwan through the use of force. Likewise, we fear neither death nor imprisonment. We will safeguard this country and this land,” he added.

Su, who practiced law during the period known locally as the “White Terror,” was critical of those who sought to undermine Taiwan’s will to fight. He also appeared to dismiss suggestions that Taiwan would rely solely on U.S. forces for its defense if China were to launch an attack—American assistance is not guaranteed.

“Certain people like to talk up the enemy’s power while questioning our own resolve,” he said.

“Furthermore, the real and bloody lessons of Afghanistan show us that internal chaos renders any external assistance ineffective. Only those who help themselves will be helped by others,” he added.

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