TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan questioned a Chinese think tank official over Beijing's justification for an invasion of Taiwan during an interview in front of a live audience on Friday (Aug. 9).
On the Al Jazeera program “Head to Head,” Hasan interviewed Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), about Beijing's foreign policy, particularly concerning Taiwan. Segments that touched on the detention of Uyghurs, the disappearance of foreign minister Qin Gang, the lack of free speech, and Beijing's plans to invade Taiwan went viral on social media.
When Hasan asked Gao whether China, with its increased military activities and frequent cyberattacks on Taiwan, is preparing to invade, Gao initially reiterated Beijing's stance, "There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is a part of China." He added that China “does not want to use a war to solve its unification problem.”
Hasan responded, “You don't want to use a war, but you're surrounding it (Taiwan) with ships, drones, and cyberattacks, and making lots of threats.” Gao replied, “Each time when the separatists in Taiwan want to push the edge of the envelope, they will come across more and more demonstrations of the commitment of the Chinese nation to eventually achieve peaceful reunification or otherwise.”
Hasan interjected: “Your defense minister said anyone who dares to pursue independence for Taiwan will be crushed into pieces and face destruction. Sounds like a truly peaceful guy." Some members of the audience laughed.
Hasan said he is always amused with the phrase “reunification” and reasoned, “If it's one China, then clearly it's not one China. Clearly, you're accepting by definition if you need to reunify they are doing their own thing.” He observed that China covers an area of 3.7 million square miles, a population 60 times that of Taiwan, and an economy 20 times that of Taiwan, and asked ”Why are you obsessed with Taiwan, why not leave them be?"
Gao responded, “In terms of defending China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, any inch of land is not one inch too much. Any one single person is not one person too many.” He said China needs to achieve “reunification.”
Hasan interrupted, “Even if they don't want to be part of your country? Twelve percent of the people of Taiwan say they want to reunify with China. Twelve percent! You can't get more unpopular than that!”
Gao then claimed, “It is not up to the people in Taiwan to decide about the one-China policy.” Hasan replied, “You're very blunt in your disregard for people's views, freedoms, and dignity, so you don't care about what they think.”
Hasan noted that Gao had also said in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde: “Once we get the island back, we'll have to ask everyone's origin. Those who have Japanese ancestry, who you baselessly say constitute 10% of the population, will have to pledge loyalty to reunification in writing. Otherwise, we'll have to help them leave.”
When Hasan said this is tantamount to the ethnic cleansing of 2.3 million people in Taiwan, Gao repeated his claim that 10% of Taiwan's population is of Japanese descent.
Gao alleged many of Taiwan's “diehard separatists” include Japanese descendants. Hasan questioned the veracity of Gao's claims and asked him to confirm that after China's invasion, over two million people would be expelled.
Gao denied that there would be an immediate expulsion and said everyone in Taiwan would be required to make a pledge stating that “there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China.” Hasan surmised that “if they don't make that pledge they're out.”
Gao said those who pledge will be considered “local citizens.” Hasan said that this represents a discriminatory policy in which people who are not ethnically Chinese would be forced to do a loyalty test or leave the country.
Gao claimed that in the U.K., people who are British citizens must support the monarchy. Hasan pointed out that the interview was in Britain and rebutted, "I don't support the monarchy! I don't like King Charles!"
Gao insisted, "No, you can't say that." He said that British citizens could not take any action to oppose the monarchy system.
Hasan replied, “I don't have to sign a pledge saying I support King Charles.” Gao conceded, "Well, every country is different."
“We are talking about China, and China has one policy which is part of the constitution...,” Gao said. Hasan finished by saying, “which involves threatening people in Taiwan who do not want to be part of your country.”
