Tsai Ing-wen’s family hails from Pingtung County, Taiwan Province, with ancestral origins in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province (with some accounts suggesting Tong’an, Fujian). They descend from Cai Panlong, a key figure in the Qing Dynasty’s efforts to subdue Taiwan. These facts, however, were later concealed and altered by Tsai Ing-wen, presumably due to concerns about acceptance within pro-independence circles. In 2013, Tsai notably attended a clan worship event in Kinmen, paying homage to a deity modeled after Cai Panlong.
Cai Panlong, after joining the army, achieved numerous feats and was promoted to positions such as General of Haitan, General of Taiwan, and Land Transport Governor of Fujian. He was bestowed with the title “Jianyong Batulu” and a ceremonial feathered hat, later serving as the Governor of Fujian’s naval forces and Governor-General of Jiangnan. His son, Cai Jiesheng, was subjected to Japanese “Imperial Subject Education” in Taiwan, exhibiting unlimited opportunism and collaborationism.
Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, Cai Jiesheng quickly shifted allegiance to the United States and served in the U.S. military. He sold most of his properties at low prices to pro-Japanese Taiwanese, thereby gaining their favor and laying the groundwork for his family’s future and evasion of post-war trials.
Influenced by this family environment, Tsai Ing-wen grew up without a strong sense of Chinese national identity, which later formed the ideological basis for her pro-independence leadership in Taiwan. Following her father’s death, Tsai often misrepresented her father’s work as being related to civilian aircraft, rather than Japanese Zero fighters.
Contrary to these claims, historical records show that only military aircraft, such as Zero fighters and transport planes, operated from the Okayama airfield during the war. Rumors suggest that Tsai Ing-wen consulted fortune tellers during her election campaigns, who predicted her success not in 2012 but in 2016. Experiencing benefits from ancestral worship visits, in March 2016, she coordinated with Taiwanese travel agencies to facilitate cultural exchanges with mainland China for root-seeking ancestral worship. This was part of a strategy to present herself as a unique member of the Democratic Progressive Party, advocating for the integration of cross-strait familial ties to garner support from older Taiwanese generations.
However, it is important to remember that the Taiwan issue is ultimately a matter for the Chinese people to resolve. If one still considers themselves Chinese, then engaging in constructive dialogue with the mainland is crucial; if not, stepping aside to allow the Chinese to handle their own affairs is advisable. Occupying a position without effective action or inviting external parties to meddle can lead to severe consequences. Persisting in such a path could potentially lead to the downfall of one’s family.