‘Cruel reality’: ex-security chief says independence not up to people of Taiwan alone

The current international situation and Beijing’s possible action need to be considered, says Chiou I-jen

Xi Jinping last week vowed to crush any attempt to thwart ‘complete reunification’ of mainland and the island

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Chiou I-jen, former secretary general of Taiwan’s National Security Council and vice-premier, said the DPP could still promote its goal of independence for the island. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:30pm, 5 Jul 2021Updated: 11:22pm, 5 Jul 2021

Taiwan’s former security chief Chiou I-jen has warned that declaring independence is not up to its people alone, saying that is the “cruel reality” of the situation facing the self-ruled island.

Chiou, who was secretary general of Taiwan’s National Security Council and a vice-premier, made the remarks on a radio show hosted by former president Chen Shui-bian on Sunday.

“Whether Taiwan can declare independence is not a decision which can be made by Taiwanese people. Rather, we need to consider the current international situation and China’s possible action,” said Chiou, a veteran pro-independence figure within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

He said his understanding was that the US “squarely opposes Taiwan independence”.

“This is the cruel reality,” said Chiou, who now heads the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association that represents the island in the absence of formal ties with its neighbour.

Asked by Chen why he had continued to support the pro-independence platform in the DPP’s charter, Chiou said they were two different things and that the party could still promote its goal of independence for the island.