Lu Li-shih Boards Chinese Warship, Praises 'Strong Motherland'; Beijing Calls It 'Sincere National Sentiment'

Liberty Times reports on the controversial actions of retired Taiwanese Navy Major Lu Li-shih, who has repeatedly engaged in pro-China rhetoric. Following a visit to a Chinese naval vessel in Qingdao, Lu stated that witnessing the People's Liberation Army's advancements and sophisticated equipment did not make him "weak-kneed" but rather filled him with a sense of China's growing strength, which he believes enhances Taiwan's security.

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Seeing the PLA's progress, seeing these advanced equipment, I don't get weak-kneed, but I feel the motherland is strong, which means Taiwan is safer!

This statement has drawn sharp criticism in Taiwan, with the Mainland Affairs Council considering legislative amendments to penalize retired military officers who engage in acts that undermine national dignity during visits to mainland China's political or military events. The proposed amendments aim to prevent such individuals from receiving retirement benefits if they participate in activities that advocate for the "elimination or weakening of Taiwan's sovereignty."

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This is sincere national sentiment.

Conversely, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua lauded Lu's remarks as expressing "sincere national sentiment," emphasizing shared cultural and ethnic ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Chen asserted that Chinese naval forces protect all compatriots, including those in Taiwan. Liberty Times frames Lu's actions as "媚中" (meizhong), a derogatory term implying excessive subservience to China, and highlights the starkly different interpretations of his statements by Taiwanese and mainland Chinese authorities, underscoring the deep political divide and ongoing tensions.

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Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same culture and race, and are interdependent. They should firmly identify with the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the great motherland, and enhance the spirit, backbone, and character of being upright Chinese.