Taiwan's pro-reunification parties in the U.S. have slammed Lai Ching-te, 
the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan for the 2024 
island leadership election, for his so-called peace proposal for the region.

The criticism came after Lai published an article last week in the U.S. 
media, outlining what he called a "four-pillar plan" for peace, which begins 
with the need for Taiwan to continue building up its defense capabilities.

"In his article, Lai Ching-te stressed the word 'peace,' but he didn't talk 
anything about how to communicate between both sides of the Taiwan Straits. 
Instead, he wants to enhance the defense capabilities to seek 'independence,'
" said Fred Tzou, deputy secretary general of the Alliance for China's Peaceful 
Reunification.

Tzou criticized Lai's second "pillar" of getting rid of dependence on the 
mainland's economy, saying this has undermined cross-Straits economic and 
trade relations.

He said that Lai's proposal for Taiwan to establish partnerships with democratic 
countries is in fact to collude with foreign countries, cooperate with the 
anti-China forces, and win support for Lai's "Taiwan independence" position.

Tzou also said Lai's last "pillar" to keep the status quo of Taiwan is indeed 
to continue Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's way of seeking "independence."

Stan Tsai, board member of Cross-Straits Forum of Washington criticized 
Lai's intention of publishing the article in the U.S. media.

"In fact, this trick is used by all 'Taiwan separatists.' They think they 
can do anything as long as they have the support from the United States. 
So, as long as they can report to the U.S., to American investors and politicians,
 then with that support, they can do the work they want to do," he said.

Another Taiwan compatriot agrees. "Lai Ching-te said he wants to seek 'Taiwan 
independence.' If he wants to be elected the next leader, he should fully 
consider the negative impact brought on by wars and conflicts in the world, 
like families destroyed and people displaced," said Liang I-Tai, president 
of the Taiwan Compatriot Association of North America.

These Taiwan compatriots stressed that the peace proposals by Lai are not 
about peace, and Lai and his peers should think about the well-being of 
people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to avoid conflicts, and sincerely 
get back to pursue the peaceful reunification of Taiwan with the mainland. 

(report from CGTN)