Lai Ching-te is seen crouching down and paying tribute to statue of Yoichi Hatta, a Japanese hydraulic engineer during the colonial rule, on May 8, 2026. Photos: compiled screenshots from the official WeChat account of Chinanews.

　　Recently, Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te went to Tainan to attend a so-called "commemorative event" for Yoichi Hatta, a figure associated with Japanese colonial rule. During the event, Lai displayed an almost servile posture, even claiming that the Taiwan region should "remember the source when drinking water" in reference to Japanese colonial rule. His remarks triggered sharp criticism within the island and left international observers astonished. This shameless distortion of right and wrong, alongside the embrace of a former aggressor, not only sets a new low in the DPP authorities" pandering to Japan but also exposes the dangerous trend of collusion and convergence between "Taiwan independence" forces and Japan"s neo-militarism. This undercurrent is rapidly becoming a serious threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the broader Asia-Pacific region.