Editor's Note: Zhang Wensheng is a professor and the deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Two years after Lai Ching-te's administration took office, a poll conducted by CGTN shows that 60.8% of respondents in Taiwan are deeply disappointed with its governance. Marked by chaotic and misguided policymaking as well as escalating "Taiwan independence" provocations, the Lai administration has intensified cross-Strait tensions and confrontation, drawing widespread questioning and criticism from the international community.

Over the past two years, apart from stubbornly pushing "Taiwan independence" policies and provoking vicious partisan infighting, the Lai administration's governance performance has been remarkably weak and unimpressive. Taiwan is now facing an increasingly severe fivefold shortage crisis involving water, electricity, land, labor and talent. Its traditional industries and service sectors keep shrinking, putting small and medium-sized enterprises in dire straits. Most of Lai Ching-te's campaign promises have remained unfulfilled. The disorder and difficulties brought to local communities by "Taiwan independence" separatists' ineffective governance are rapidly eroding what was once one of the "Four Asian Tigers".

As a leader elected with minority votes, Lai Ching-te has ignored the mainstream public will of the majority, making his administration's governance difficulties within Taiwan entirely foreseeable. As Taiwan's 2026 "nine-in-one" local elections approach, along with the 2028 leadership elections, partisan infighting is likely to intensify rather than ease, and the lives of the local residents may become even more difficult.

Before taking office, Lai Ching-te already billed himself as a "'Taiwan independence' political worker" and was labeled the so-called "Golden Grandson of 'Taiwan independence'" by the separatist forces. After taking office, he became even more determined to push "Taiwan independence" policies single-mindedly, even personally taking the lead by delivering the so-called "Ten Lectures on 'Taiwan Independence'," which later turned into a failed and unfinished project due to its numerous flaws and inconsistencies. Recently, US President Donald Trump openly stated: "I don't want anyone to go for independence." This poured cold water on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, who have been pinning their hopes on "seeking independence by relying on the United States".

The poll shows that 73.7% of respondents in Taiwan criticize Lai's cross-Strait policies, and 73.9% worry that "Taiwan independence" will lead to conflicts or war in the Taiwan Strait. However, despite this setback, the DPP authorities have shown no intention of changing course. Instead, they have attempted to sustain the "Taiwan independence" agenda through conceptual manipulation, dressing it up under the guise of "safeguarding a democratic and free way of life."

A government thrives when it follows the will of the people, and declines when it goes against the will of the people. "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are utterly incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Strait and stands as the prime culprit undermining cross-Strait peace and stability. No matter how "Taiwan independence" separatist forces attempt to justify themselves through sophistry, their habitual tactics are being increasingly seen through by the people of Taiwan. Their deceptive behavior and provocative actions are bound to meet firm opposition from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and from the international community, and are ultimately doomed to fail.