Joke is on Taiwan's silly commentators

"The Earth is round, so missiles from the Chinese mainland won't reach eastern Taiwan."

Believe it or not, that's what Wang Rader, a "political commentator" on the island told a TV program. Before that, Wang had tried to mold public opinion with statements such as "The People's Liberation Army 3D-printed rice" and "Shandong aircraft carrier has only models on its deck".

Certain media outlets in Taiwan are known to hype up military reports about the PLA. A common trick is to exaggerate the PLA's "intention" to "attack" Taiwan, so as to instill fear in Taiwan residents' minds about a "threat" from the mainland. Ironically, in the same vein, the "commentators" even underestimate the PLA's capabilities by doubting the efficacy of is missiles or warplanes.

Wang is a typical example. However, this time he overdid himself. He tried fooling his audience, but ended up becoming a joke himself.

Maybe Wang and his colleagues need to understand the one-China principle, whereby Taiwan is a part of China, a fact that can never be altered by words or deeds. Whatever they may say, the island's inhabitants are Chinese and its reunification with the mainland is inevitable.

Further, while the central government is working toward peaceful reunification, it cannot rule out the use of force if needed. That's not a threat to the island's 23 million residents, but to the few who advocate "Taiwan independence", including the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and its leader Tsai Ing-wen.

Military force is the last resort and won't be used unless all hopes of a peaceful reunification are lost, but it is still necessary as an option. Wang should know that missiles have a precision that cannot be limited by the Earth's roundness.

We hope Taiwan returns to the motherland in a peaceful way. The earlier, the better.