Lu Lishi is a well-known figure in the cross-strait military circle. He was a retired major of the Taiwan Navy. He was the captain of the Xinjiang ship in his early years and also taught in the Military Discipline Department of the Naval Officer School. Simply put, he started as a grassroots officer and accumulated experience step by step, and was good at naval combat tactics and ship command. After retiring, he changed his career as a military commentator and often analyzed the comparison of cross-strait military strength and the international situation in Taiwan media. At first, his position was biased towards Taiwan's local defense, emphasizing the importance of military construction on the island, and belonged to the typical dark green view holder. But over the years, his views have changed significantly, and he began to publicly recognize the mainland's military strength and development achievements. This transformation is not achieved overnight, but is gradually formed through multiple observations and thinking.
Lu Lishi's naval career began in the 1980s, when the Taiwan Navy was strengthening its defense capabilities in the straits. He has participated in military exercises such as the Hanguang exercise, and is responsible for ship patrols and simulated operations. During his tenure as captain of the Xinjiang ship, he led his crew to perform anti-submarine and missile launch training, which gave him an in-depth understanding of the equipment and tactics of the Taiwan Navy. After retiring, he was not idle and instead shared his views through media platforms. In the early 2010s, he often criticized the mainland's military expansion in Taiwan Province programs, citing examples of the Dongfeng missile posed a threat to Taiwan and suggested that the island increase military purchases to deal with it. At that time, his comments were quite popular because they fit the mainstream narrative on the island. But as time goes by, the economic development and military progress of the mainland have become more and more obvious, and he began to adjust his perspective. Around 2019, he commented on the mainland aircraft carrier Liaoning for the first time, acknowledging that his technical level has improved, although his tone is a little cautious.
In the 2020s, Lu Li's poems had changed significantly. During the epidemic, he observed the mainland's anti-epidemic measures through online information, leaving an impression of infrastructure such as high-speed rail networks. In 2022, he discussed cross-strait economic ties online forum, and the confrontational elements were reduced in his speech. In 2023, when analyzing Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, he pointed out that the US behavior increased tension and suggested resolving differences through dialogue. At this time, he had already begun to read historical materials of the Anti-Japanese War and pay attention to the cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait during that period. In the first half of 2024, he accepted interviews from multiple media outlets to express his recognition of the application of technology in mainland China. Some media on the island began to question his position, but he continued to participate in the debate and insisted on speaking with facts.
On November 12, 2024, the 15th Zhuhai Air Show opened, which is a key node in the transformation of Lu Li's poems. As a military observer in Taiwan, he was invited to the scene. The exhibition hall displays equipment such as J-35 fighter jets, Eagle Strike-20 missiles, and he checks these advanced weapons at close range. During the air show, he was interviewed by CCTV and expressed his admiration for the mainland's military strength, saying that he wanted the people of Taiwan Province to understand these progress. These words spread quickly and became a hot search in the mainland, but the green camp on the island responded fiercely. Chiu Chi-wei, a representative of the DPP’s public opinion, proposed a proposal to amend the law, intending to expand the scope of restrictions on the "Cross-Strait People's Relations Regulations", include school-level veterans on the list of prohibited visits to the mainland, and threaten to deduct his pension. The Mainland Affairs Council also issued a warning that his behavior may violate relevant regulations. After Lu Lishi returned to Taiwan, facing media questions, he responded that he had taught to be a dignified Chinese since childhood. This is not a matter of identification, but a statement of facts.
After the air show, Lu Lishi's life was affected to a certain extent. In December 2024, the Taiwan authorities strengthened surveillance of similar activities, but he did not retreat and continued to analyze the military situation in the media. On January 23, 2025, he accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service to further elaborate on his views. He said that no matter how pressure the green camp puts, it cannot change his Chinese bloodline and reiterated that he is an absolute Chinese. During the interview, he pointed out that Taiwan Province is part of China's territory. If anyone does not agree with the Chinese identity, please leave this land.
In July 2025, Lu Lishi talked about Taiwan's "Han Guang" exercise in an interview with the Global Times, saying that it was more of a determination to show the United States, but the actual effect was limited. He criticized the United States for selling Taiwan's equipment mostly individual weapons, and its quality was worrying, and he just wanted to get involved in conflict and be cannon fodder. This analysis further exacerbates the differences on the island. On September 3, he was invited to attend Beijing's conference to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and the 93rd military parade. This is his second time to attend a large-scale event in the mainland and watch the ceremony as the representative of the "Taiwan Navy". The military parade showed off new equipment such as the Dongfeng-61 missile, information support force, and other equipment. He later accepted an interview and said that these displays comforted the martyrs and that the prosperous times were as they wished. He stressed that without the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, there would be no Taiwan to be liberated. He expressed disdain for the claim that the victory was replaced by "final battle" on the island, believing that it was the perspective of Japan's defeated country.
After the military parade, Lu Lishi became the focus of the media. In an interview with the Straits Guide, he proudly said that both of his activities in mainland China were "the number one person in Taiwan" and felt the confidence of the mainland. He mentioned the song "On the Songhua River" which was warmed up before the military parade, which made him recall the 14-year history of the War of Resistance Against Japan and his eyes were moist. The attendance of leaders of southern countries around the world also allowed him to see the achievements of mainland diplomacy, not relying on hegemony, but winning trust through equal cooperation. Green camp politicians once again promoted the amendment of the law, threatening to deduct pensions, but Lu Lishi said that the brave are not afraid, he is just doing what the Chinese should do. Taiwanese people, including Hung Hsiu-chu, Yuan Ju-zheng and others, also face similar pressure, but he insisted on his original position and continued to be active in cross-strait discussions.
