"Special State-to-State Relations" Remark Escalates Cross-Strait Tensions

In a radio interview, Lee described relations between Taiwan and China as "special state-to-state relations" rather than the "one China" framing both sides had previously used ambiguously to avoid direct confrontation. Beijing reacted furiously, suspending semi-official cross-strait talks and conducting further military exercises, and the remark is regarded by historians on both sides of the strait as a significant escalation in the two governments' rhetorical positioning.