In a recent speech to the Taiwanese community in Northern California, Yu Beichen, a retired major general and current reserve major general in Taiwan, reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to its democratic values and emphasized its distinct identity from mainland China.
Addressing the question of the self-ruled island’s ownership, Gen. Yu firmly stated, “Taiwan belongs to freedom, Taiwan belongs to the free and democratic Republic of China, not to communist China.”
Having served as the former commander of an armored brigade in Taiwan, Gen. Yu transitioned into politics and was elected as a city council member of Taoyuan City in Taiwan in January 2022. His visit to California was at the invitation of the South Bay Taiwanese Democracy Alliance of Northern California, where he spoke on subjects concerning Taiwan’s defense, peace in the Taiwan Strait, and threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The speech, held in Milpitas at the Culture Center of San Francisco Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, attracted hundreds to hear insights on Taiwan’s security landscape from a seasoned military leader.
“As a veteran, I am unwavering in my confidence in Taiwan’s defense capabilities,” Gen. Yu remarked, highlighting his over three-decade-long military career. Despite his transition to politics, he maintains the physical discipline of a military man and fulfills annual reserve training requirements.
How to Defend Taiwan?
Gen. Yu emphasized Taiwan’s pivotal role in promoting democratic ideals within the greater Chinese community. He believes that Taiwan’s adherence to democratic principles serves as a beacon of hope for mainland China’s eventual transition towards democracy.
“Taiwan is the only country in the Chinese-speaking world with a genuine democratic system,” he asserted. “Its sovereignty is crucial to countering CCP’s propaganda narrative that democracy is incompatible with the Chinese society.”
Reflecting on the recent psychological warfare tactics employed by the CCP, Gen. Yu cautioned against succumbing to fear-mongering. He urged Taiwan’s populace to remain steadfast in their trust in the government’s ability to safeguard their interests.
On Feb. 19, six Chinese coast guard officers boarded a Taiwanese ferry carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers. The Chinese officers checked the Taiwanese vessel’s route plan, certificate, and crew license. A Taiwanese minister later said that the unauthorized conduct of the Chinese officers had triggered “panic” among the passengers.
Gen. Yu also highlighted the CCP’s multifaceted infiltration strategy targeting Taiwan, encompassing espionage, financial inducements, and disinformation campaigns on social media platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu. He stressed the importance of vigilance and resilience in countering these threats.
Trust Issues
Historically, there has always been skepticism towards the United States in Taiwanese society.According to a survey released by the Institute of European and American Studies of Taiwan’s Academia Sinica in November last year, only about 34.03 percent of Taiwanese respondents considered the United States a trustworthy country. The same survey also revealed that only 9.3 percent of respondents believed that China keeps its promises.
While acknowledging prevailing skepticism toward the United States among segments of Taiwanese society, Yu attributed this sentiment to the U.S. government’s China policy in the past.
He said that U.S. policymakers once believed that the CCP could be changed. That is, when China became wealthier, it would abandon communism and move towards the democratic world.
“If this assumption by the United States was correct at the time, then there would be no issues of potential wars in Taiwan Strait today, because democratic countries would not annex other democratic countries.”
He feels that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States did indeed raise doubts among some Taiwanese people about the United States. “So, Taiwanese people need to slowly start to fully trust the United States, and this will take some time,” he said.
However, Gen. Yu urged a nuanced approach to evaluating Taiwan-U.S. relations, citing the historical alliance between the two nations, symbolized by his own introduction to American-made M14 rifles during his military service.
“As a 15-year-old recruit, my first rifle was an American-made M14,” he reminisced, underscoring the significance of bilateral cooperation in bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
Gen. Yu explained that when he joined Taiwan’s military in the 1980s, there were two types of rifles used in the Taiwanese military. One was the American-made M14 rifle, and the other was domestically produced. The American-made rifles were generally older than the domestically produced ones, but most people in the military at that time preferred to use the American-made ones because of their better quality and lower failure rate.
The general said he remains resolute in his belief in Taiwan’s ability to defend itself. “Taiwan’s armed forces are fully capable of safeguarding our sovereignty,” he declared, advocating for self-reliance as the cornerstone of Taiwan’s national security strategy.
“Only by helping oneself can one receive divine assistance,” he said and asserted that Taiwan can only stand together with its allies, such as the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, against the CCP expansion if Taiwan has confidence in itself.
