Whatever words he uses, such as "peace in the Taiwan Strait" in an article published on the Wall Street Journal, Lai Ching-te cannot hide his old tricks of pursuing Taiwan "independence".

While claiming to "build up deterrence", Lai seems happy with the increase in the local military budget and a closer relationship with "partners" — aka the US and its subordinates. Lai could of course pin his hopes on military strength, but he must know better than anybody how fragile the local troops behave and the US' record of betraying its "friends" for its own interests.

By "fostering secure supply chain" Lai apparently means to make use of TSMC, which produces advanced chips, but ironically the US is already coercing the company to move to the Arizona, while US politicians threaten to bomb it in case of national reunification.

He claimed not to rule out the possibility of a dialogue without preconditions, but set preconditions in the same sentence. This is nothing new.

As Laura Rosenberger, widely called Joe Biden's China-point woman, took the position of the so-called American Institute in Taiwan, Lai as DPP candidate is in a haste to please their US boss for support at the cost of 23 million residents' security and interests. But his move will only be in vain.

There is one thing both Lai and his superior Tsai Ing-wen need to bear in mind, namely that the 1992 Consensus, which fundamentally stresses the one-China principle, is the prerequisite for any dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. As the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the coming election in Taiwan, Lai would be fortunate if he loses because victory would only bring disaster upon himself and his clique.