Beijing – Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to feel a peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan, although not directly referring to the use of force after week of stress With the Chinese-claimed island that sparked international concern.
Taiwan quickly answered the call Beijing To relinquish his pressure, reiterating that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
Democratic-ruled Taiwan has come under military and political pressure from Beijing to accept its sovereignty, but Taipei has vowed to defend its independence.
Speaking at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi said the Chinese people have a “splendid tradition” of resisting separatism.
“Taiwan’s independence separatism is the greatest obstacle to achieving homeland reunification, and the most serious hidden threat to national rejuvenation,” he said on the anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the last imperial dynasty in 1911.
He said peaceful “unification” serves the overall interests of the Taiwanese people, but that China will defend its sovereignty and unity.
“No one should underestimate the determination, strong will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Xi said. “The historic task of the complete integration of the Motherland must, and must, be accomplished.”
He struck a slightly softer tone than in July, his last major speech referring to Taiwan, in which he vowed to “break” any attempts at formal independence. In 2019, he threatened direct use of force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.
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Nevertheless, the speech was poorly received in Taiwan.
The President’s Office stated that they were a sovereign independent country, not part of the People’s Republic of China, and that it had categorically rejected China’s proposal of a “one country, two systems” to govern the island. .
“The future of the country lies in the hands of the people of Taiwan,” the office said.
In a separate statement, Taiwan’s China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing to “abandon its provocative measures of infiltration, oppression and destruction” and return to talks.
China’s Air Force for four consecutive days Infiltration into Taiwan’s air defense detection area Since 1 October, that includes about 150 aircraft, although those missions have since ended. Xi made no mention of those flights.
Taiwan maintains that it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name. The Republic of China was established in 1912 and its government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the communists, who founded today’s People’s Republic.
Taiwan marks October 10, when the anti-imperialist revolution began in China, as its national day, and President Tsai Ing-wen will deliver a keynote address in Taipei on Sunday.
China celebrated the revolution in support of Republic leader Sun Yat-sen’s call for patriotism, national rejuvenation and good governance.
Xi used the speech to “underline the need for a strong force to lead the country, and it is a strong force”. Chinese Communist Party“
“Without the Chinese Communist Party, there would be no new China, and therefore no rejuvenation of the Chinese people,” he said.
Xi has tightened party control in all aspects of life and is almost certain to break protocol and remain as the head of the Communist Party for a third term at the end of next year, when Congress is set to hold an office for the next five years. Will elect a new leadership.