A recent article published by the Xiamen University Institute of Cross-Strait Urban Planning in mainland China on the 5th called on Beijing authorities to quickly initiate the so-called “Taiwan takeover preparation.” The article stated that with the increasing likelihood of Trump coming to power, the unification timetable could be accelerated at any time, emphasizing the urgent need to prepare for the “comprehensive takeover of Taiwan.” However, the article has been taken down after its publication. Searches for “Xiamen University” and “comprehensive takeover of Taiwan” on mainland Chinese social media platform Weibo yielded no results related to the article.
The Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has archived the article and translated it into English for placement on their official website. The overseas website “China Digital Era” has also saved the article.
The article, titled “Quickly Initiate Taiwan Takeover Preparation” from the Xiamen University Institute of Cross-Strait Urban Planning, suggested that as the US election approaches, the CCP’s timetable for “Taiwan unification” could be brought forward.
Unlike Hong Kong, the article pointed out that Taiwan does not have the issue of “fifty years of unchanged status.” It proposed two recommendations: firstly, the prompt establishment of the Central Taiwan Work Committee of the CCP, and secondly, the swift establishment of a trial governance zone for Taiwan. The article claimed that the sole goal of the Central Taiwan Work Committee is to act as a “shadow government” ready to take over the administration across the strait at any time.
Acknowledging Taiwan as a more developed economic entity relative to the mainland, the article highlighted many issues that Taiwan faces which the mainland has rarely encountered or not faced at all.
Furthermore, the article suggested the need to “unite anti-Taiwan independence forces” by integrating these forces into national actions, which would systematize and institutionalize these anti-independence efforts.
It proposed the establishment of a “Taiwan governance trial zone” in Xiamen’s Xiang’an District or Nan’an City in Quanzhou, areas adjacent to Kinmen, to simulate the real governance structure of Taiwan. Policies and laws in the zone would align with the actual policies Taiwan plans to adopt after unification, which would include decisions on electoral systems, simplified or traditional characters, currency transition, educational materials, and teacher handovers.
The article also claimed that Hong Kong, as a model of the “one country, two systems” framework, no longer holds much persuasiveness for Taiwan and emphasized the need to establish a new model.
In response to the article, overseas netizens commented:
– Yin Tianwei: “Let Li Yi handle it.”
– Rikarufort: “It must be said, the malicious intent of an aggressor is evident in each sentence.”
– Ta.tai: “Thugs are considering heinous contingency plans, sophisticated deception, fully exposing their shamelessness.”
– Escaped Leek: “No substantial projects, but pushing out this kind of thing.”
– Nam Na: “Rapists, before committing the crime, construct fantasies of how to make the woman love and integrate into their evil lives afterward.”
– Zhu Sitiiya: “He also admits in the article that Taiwan is a more developed economic entity, so why ‘unify’?”
– Artest: “The general idea is still heavy infiltration, buying pro-CCP individuals with large sums of money, and engaging in unrestricted warfare.”
– Glass Heart Shredder: “First achieve the capability to take over before discussing plans. After nearly seventy to eighty years, they are still fantasizing.”
Public reports indicate that the Xiamen University Taiwan Research Institute announced the establishment of the “Cross-Strait Integration and National Unification Policy Simulation Laboratory” and the “Taiwan Diplomacy Research Center” in June 2020, with the objectives of analyzing and simulating “national unification” as well as enhancing Taiwan-related diplomatic affairs. The Mainland Affairs Council stated at the time that strict scrutiny would be applied during the entry inspection for personnel from Xiamen University’s Taiwan Research Institute when visiting Taiwan for exchanges.