Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to realize peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan, although the latter did not directly mention the use of force. A week of tension with the Chinese-claimed island Which gave rise to international concern.
democratically governed taiwan has arrived Increased military and political pressure from Beijing To accept its sovereignty, but Taipei has pledged to defend its independence and only the people of Taiwan can decide its future.
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 hit a bit softer than July, his last major speech referring to Taiwan, in which he vowed to “sever” any attempts at formal independence. In 2019, he threatened direct use of force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.
China’s air force infiltrated Taiwan’s air defense detection area for four consecutive days from 1 October, involving 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 founded 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.
Speaking shortly before Xi, Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said China was “flexing its muscles” and creating regional tensions. “This is why countries that believe in freedom, democracy and human rights, and are based on shared values, are all working together and repeatedly warning that China should not invade Taiwan,” They said.
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.
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