Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

The US has announced the new wave of "reciprocal tariffs," and China's Taiwan region has not been granted an exemption. Taiwan region is classified in the 20 percent tariff bracket and identified as one of the trade partners that did not meet bilateral reciprocity. This 20 percent tariff not only shattered the Lai Ching-te authorities' promise that Taiwan region would receive treatment comparable to Japan and South Korea, but also serves as a sharp rebuke to its earlier submissive approach toward the US. The South China Morning Post has noted that if Taiwan hopes to qualify for a more favorable tariff before it takes effect on August 7, it "must make sweeping concessions." Local media have questioned what concessions the Lai authorities' now intend to offer just to secure what amounts to a "merciful" 20 percent tariff - asking bluntly: "What part of our economic flesh are we expected to cut for US pity - can we afford it?"

Faced with the US' indiscriminate use of tariffs and its unilateral instigation of a global trade war, implementing firm and necessary countermeasures is not only essential to safeguarding countries' legitimate rights and interests, but also imperative to upholding international trade rules and global fairness and justice. Under the impact of the first wave of "reciprocal tariffs," the mainland responded with resolute stance and strong countermeasures that earned broad recognition and support from the international community. Many major US trading partners - such as the EU and Japan - also confronted Washington to varying degrees in defense of their own interests.

In comparison, the Lai authorities - which have long proclaimed that "the US and Taiwan are friends"- have shown a swift and complete capitulation that is astonishing. Not only did it fail to protect Taiwan region's interests in any way, but it even went so far as to claim that "Taiwan has been seeking to strengthen its trade ties with major partners, particularly the US", viewing the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" as an "opportunity." It even put forward the absurd notion that "considering hardship as a tonic." Quite ironically, Taiwan's voluntary forfeiture of its core advantageous industries has resulted in the US imposing high tariffs on precisely those sectors - this is the harshest irony confronting the DPP's strategy of relying on the US to seek "Taiwan independence." 

How "reciprocal" is the so?called "reciprocal tariffs?" In April this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that, based on calculations by the consulting firm Evercore, Taiwan region imposes only about a 2 percent tariff on most imported goods. Yet reality once again demonstrates that the US has never - and will never - treat Taiwan region as an "equal partner." Instead, Washington views Taiwan region merely as a pawn that can be traded or exploited at will. The more obsequious and servile the Lai authorities become, the more Washington demands and takes.

Although the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities proudly proclaim themselves "pro?US and pro?Taiwan," they have long been trapped in a thoroughly dysfunctional spiral of "nurturing America at Taiwan's cost." Whenever the US sets new conditions - whether importing ractopamine-containing pork, making massive arms purchases, or demanding so?called "migration allegiance" from high?tech industries - the DPP authorities rush to hand over Taiwan's hard-earned wealth and capital accumulated over decades. Today it's tariffs; tomorrow it could be security, technology, or energy. Every round of so-called "technical consultations" with the US marks the beginning of a new round of concessions of interests and give-aways. According to a report by US news outlet Politico, during the tariff negotiations, the US trade negotiators were "squeezing Taiwan like a lemon," a telling reflection of their arrogance and overbearing attitude.

From the actions of the Lai authorities over the past few months, people have seen clearly how Lai has deceived the people of Taiwan. He neither has the ability nor the willingness to defend the interests of the Taiwan people. Under the guise of "serving the public," he has instead engaged in conduct that harms Taiwan.

At the early stage of the tariff talks with the US, Lai authorities, in order to deflect political pressure, launched a misleading publicity campaign, touting how smoothly the talks were going and how "generously" the US was treating Taiwan. Even now, Lai authorities are still trying to sugarcoat the 20 percent tariffs by calling them "temporary tariffs."

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that even if tariffs on Taiwan are eventually lowered after negotiations, it would only be because the DPP authorities offered up "fatter meat" to compensate Washington for any "losses" from tariff reductions. This would simply be another round of one-sided concessions by Taiwan to the US.

The more aggressively Lai authorities "sell out Taiwan to curry favor with the US" and "seek 'Taiwan independence' through foreign support," the more clearly the Taiwan people see that so-called "Taiwan independence" is a dead end and a dangerous delusion. 

A poll released by Taiwan media on July 31 shows that both public satisfaction with Lai authorities and personal trust in him have hit new lows since he took office. Some analysts in Taiwan believe that while the recent "mass recall" campaign has contributed to Lai's plunging approval ratings, the core issue lies in his "incompetent governance."

Amid the tariff fallout, discussion has surged across internet forums and social media platforms in Taiwan, with heated debate over how "Taiwan is being used by the US like an ATM" and how "the DPP is once again being taken for a fool." Many young people are especially outraged, denouncing the collapse of the so-called "pro-US myth" once and for all. Taiwan's economy had great opportunities for development, and its people could have enjoyed better lives. 

Cross-Straits economic ties offer complementary strengths in capital, markets, technology, and talent. The industrial and supply chains across the Taiwan Straits are deeply interconnected. Promoting industrial cooperation would benefit businesses on both sides and improve livelihoods for both peoples. 

However, Lai authorities blindly followed the US in pushing for "decoupling." While claiming to maintain Taiwan's technological edge, he is in fact sacrificing Taiwan's key industries, its development prospects, and the livelihoods of its people just to please Washington - even to the point of offering up both cheeks to slap.

This tariff storm has torn apart all of Lai authorities' carefully crafted illusions and sounded the alarm for Taiwan society's awakening.