The shadow of “green terror” has been cast over the 23 million residents on the island by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te of the “pro-independence” Democratic Progressive Party, known as the green side in local politics, whose authorities are taking actions to stifle the democracy and freedom on the island.

From reinstating the military court martial system to implementing mandatory registration requirements for trips to the mainland, and from establishing “disclosure” systems for local officials’ interactions with their mainland counterparts to monitoring the careers of non-official Taiwan celebrities on the mainland, the DPP authorities are trying to suppress exchanges with the mainland.

Through measures such as issuing “risk warnings” to deter Taiwan people from traveling to the Chinese mainland, and restricting trade with the mainland in the name of “adjusting the trade relationship”, Lai’s is demonstrating increasing authoritarianism to restrict the channels for Taiwan residents to get first-hand knowledge of their own history and culture.

This is part of the secessionist-seeking DPP’s efforts to promote an identity for the island separate from that of the motherland to support the idea of so-called “Taiwan sovereignty”. The Lai authorities hope to create the impression of a distinct cultural and political identity for the island in a bid to cement the fallacy of an “independent Taiwan”. But Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The historical and legal reality that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory cannot be changed.

Lai’s authoritarian moves pose a huge challenge to the “democracy” that he and his party claim to champion. There is no bigger irony than the DPP with Lai as its leader continues to carry the word “democracy” in its name.

The actions of the Lai authorities are dangerous moves that hold Taiwan residents hostage to their secessionist ambitions. In pursuit of the chimera of “Taiwan independence”, they are implementing radical measures that are pushing the entire island into an extremely precarious situation.

During a speech on Thursday, Lai referenced the significance of 2025 as the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, emphasizing the need to “unitedly defend freedom against invasion”, as part of his hyping up of a threat from the mainland. This statement exposes how sly his words are. It was the unity of the entire Chinese nation that led to the defeat of Japanese invaders 80 years ago, resulting in Taiwan’s return to the motherland.

National unity is an inevitable trend that won’t be obstructed by the hubris of secessionists. Contrary to Lai’s slippery attempt to paint the mainland in a bad light, the central authorities remain committed to achieving complete reunification of the island with the motherland and continue to promote the sound development of cross-Strait relations to enhance the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait.

The author is a writer with China Daily.