Taiwan’s Democratic Example Inspires Hope for China’s Future, Retired Taiwanese Major General Says

In a recent speech to the Taiwanese community in Northern California, Yu Beichen, a retired major general and current reserve major general in Taiwan, reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to its democratic values and emphasized its distinct identity from mainland China. Addressing the question of the self-ruled island’s ownership, Gen. Yu firmly stated, “Taiwan belongs to freedom, Taiwan belongs to the free and democratic Republic of China, not to communist China.” Having served as the former commander of an armored brigade in Taiwan, Gen. Yu transitioned into politics and was elected as a city council member of Taoyuan City in Taiwan in January 2022. His visit to California was at the invitation of the South Bay Taiwanese Democracy Alliance of Northern California, where he spoke on subjects concerning Taiwan’s defense, peace in the Taiwan Strait, and threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)....