— Looking at a Treacherous Regime Through the Lens of History
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in an interview marking the first anniversary of his inauguration, used the metaphor of a "corporate merger and acquisition" to describe cross-strait relations. He said that if there were to be negotiations, they should be built on a foundation of equality and mutual respect. Although President Lai's remark was merely a metaphor, I must say this in response: under no circumstances should anyone negotiate with the CCP.
History has repeatedly proven that what the CCP excels at is not honoring its promises, but exploiting them. It will promise you anything when it needs you, and the moment its goal is achieved, it turns on you without a second thought. International treaties, historic agreements — in its eyes, these are nothing more than "tools of temporary convenience."
From the pre-1949 "Kuomintang-Communist cooperation," to the promise that "Hong Kong would remain unchanged for fifty years," to its WTO market-opening commitments, to its many promises made to Taiwanese businesspeople and the Chinese people — behind every solemn pledge lies the same playbook: "deceive, then discard."
I. Betrayal Is the Skill That Built the CCP
When the War of Resistance against Japan broke out in 1937, the CCP, flying the banner of "Kuomintang-Communist cooperation" and adopting the designation of the "8th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army," claimed to be jointly resisting Japan. In reality, they avoided battle and combat, seizing every gap in the fighting to "expand red base areas and preserve their own strength." While outwardly cooperating in the resistance, they in fact set up a separate "Soviet regime" with Soviet backing, creating "a state within a state," inciting peasant uprisings, infiltrating local governments, and even growing opium in Nanniwan, using drugs to corrupt Nationalist troops, raise money, and undermine military morale.
This is their logic: the cooperation is fake, the exploitation is real; once they've used you up, they turn on you — and then slander and smear you on top of it.
II. From "Seize the Landlords, Distribute the Land" to "Mass Starvation Under Collectivization"
Before seizing power, the CCP promised that "the land belongs to the peasants." After seizing power, it took the land back through "collectivization," eventually turning it into the "People's Commune" system — overnight, peasants found themselves worse off than before the CCP came to power. Worse, in fact, because even under the landlords they had at least been fed, whereas during the Great Leap Forward, when people starved to death, no one was held responsible.
Believe its promises, and it will cost you your life.
When it needs you, you are a "reliable ally of the proletariat." When it no longer needs you, you become a "migrant worker," "low-end population."
III. From National Capitalists to Taiwanese Businesspeople: The CCP's Cycle of Harvesting
Before it seized power, the CCP appealed to capitalists of the Republican era: "New China needs your experience in development," "we must unite with the business and industrial community to build the nation together." Many entrepreneurs, moved by patriotic slogans, believed they were serving their country — only to end up as cannon fodder carrying the CCP's sedan chair.
Then came the "Five-Anti Campaign," and capitalists were bankrupted, forced to "pay back taxes" — taxes retroactively assessed all the way back to the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. Isn't that almost comical?
Some, unable to bear it, jumped to their deaths. Even jumping into the Huangpu River wasn't allowed — doing so would get you labeled as having "defected to Hong Kong," implicating your family.
Mayor Chen Yi reportedly sipped tea leisurely each evening, listening to reports: "How many 'paratroopers' today?" The so-called "paratroopers" were capitalists who had jumped from tall buildings.
Dong Zhujun, founder of Shanghai's Jinjiang Hotel, had in her early years sheltered and funded the CCP's underground operatives. In 1951, her hotel was seized by the CCP; during the Cultural Revolution she was branded a spy, and died still bearing that unjust label.
Among the entrepreneurs of the Republican era who threw in their lot with the CCP, which one of them met a good end?
Decades later, history repeated itself. Taiwanese businesspeople who believed in "reform and opening up" moved their supply chains from Taiwan to the mainland. What they got in return was preferential "red" policies giving way to tax investigations and an absent rule of law, ultimately leaving them with neither money nor assets, forced to flee. Oh, but excuse me — you were free to leave; it was your money, assets, and property that all had to stay behind!
What does "win-win" mean to the CCP? It means it wins twice, and you're still supposed to be grateful it spared your life!
IV. Once It Denounced the Nationalist Government as Dictatorial Every Day — After Taking Power, "Democracy" Became a Forbidden Word
Back then, the CCP denounced the Nationalist government day after day as dictatorial, corrupt, and rotten: "We will achieve democracy for the people!" But the moment it seized power, the word "democracy" became sensitive; the news had to be controlled, the internet had to be censored, and even electing a district chief required "vetting and appointment" by higher-ups.
More ironic still: anyone who publicly speaks of democracy or a multi-party system will find the police coming to have a "chat" with them.
And as for corruption? If the CCP claims to be second in the world, no one dares claim to be first.
V. Sichuan Earthquake Relief Funds, Whereabouts Unknown
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake shocked the world, and Chinese people everywhere donated generously; total disaster relief funds exceeded 65.2 billion yuan (roughly $9.4 billion at the time), not including donated goods and supplies.
Eight years later, 50.1 billion yuan remained unaccounted for. This may explain why people are now encouraged to donate money rather than goods — reselling goods is such a hassle, after all!
Recently, an 18-year-old young actress was found to be wearing earrings worth 2.3 million yuan; her father happened to be the official in charge of post-disaster reconstruction at the time.
The public reacted with outrage: "If they dare embezzle even disaster relief funds, is there anything they wouldn't dare do?"
Even He Shen, the notoriously corrupt official of the Qing Dynasty, was said to observe "three things he would not touch" — one of which was disaster relief funds! CCP corrupt officials, by contrast, not only steal such funds but dare to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth publicly. This isn't just corruption — it's a naked mockery of everyone who donated!
VI. "Have Just One, the Government Will Support You in Old Age"? A Bleak Old Age Instead
During the family-planning era, the CCP's slogan was "one child is best, the government will care for you in old age"; later this shifted to "supporting your elderly parents is a duty — pushing that duty onto the government is shameful"; and now, it has become "two children isn't enough, three is just right," and "not having children means you don't love your country."
A whole generation believed its promises and sacrificed their future, only to find themselves, decades later, facing delayed retirement, shrinking welfare benefits, and public pressure campaigns to have more children. The CCP denies responsibility on one hand while manipulating people's emotions on the other. This isn't a change in policy — it's that the CCP never intended to honor its promise in the first place.
VII. Joining the WTO, Signing the Joint Declaration? Discarded the Moment It's Convenient
In 2001, the CCP joined the WTO, promising to open its markets, protect intellectual property, and reduce subsidies. The whole world believed it, thinking the CCP would move toward a market economy. Instead, it continued subsidizing state-owned enterprises and forcing foreign companies to transfer technology, stealing from the entire world, all while erecting ever-higher firewalls — and then turning around to accuse others of "pursuing decoupling."
The Hong Kong issue is an even more blatant case of breaking its word.
In 1984, the CCP signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, stating in black and white that "Hong Kong would remain unchanged for fifty years." Now, in under 25 years, Hong Kong's National Security Law has taken effect, press freedom has been shut down, and the electoral system has been completely rewritten. Faced with criticism, they didn't even bother keeping up appearances, saying outright: "The Joint Declaration is merely a historical document."
Even an international treaty, in the eyes of the CCP, is nothing more than a tool to be discarded once it has served its purpose — "kicking away the ladder" after crossing the river.
As the saying goes: once a wolf starts eating people, it never stops at just one.
The CCP built itself on deception and maintains its rule through violence — what possible reason is there to believe it would suddenly deal with Taiwan in good faith and abide by the rules?
VIII. What Is the CCP's Credibility Worth?
The CCP built itself on lies and maintains stability through deception. The treaties it signs become mere "historical documents"; the checks it writes all bounce; the promises it makes ultimately become nothing but the blood and tears of its victims.
Today, if there are still people in Taiwan who imagine that simply "talking things over" or "signing an agreement" could bring the two sides of the strait together as one family, they need only look back over the past few decades — how many people, how many countries, once believed the CCP!
Whoever trusts it ends up as its sacrifice!
This regime keeps neither its word nor the law, still less any moral bottom line.
Its history is not a story of struggle and achievement — it is a history of betrayal.