Xi Jinping: Taiwan Reunification Is Inevitable

Via Syndicated Feed

Cover Image Attribute: On New Year’s Eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2024 New Year Message via China Media Group and the Internet. / Source: CGTN's Official Youtube Channel

In his New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China's firm stance on the "reunification" of Taiwan with the mainland, emphasizing it as an inevitable historical outcome. The statement, delivered less than two weeks before Taiwan's upcoming elections, carries significant weight amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
President Xi's address, broadcasted on state television, underscored China's unwavering commitment to bringing Taiwan, which it regards as a part of its territory, under its control. While Xi did not explicitly mention military action, China has consistently asserted its right to use force if necessary to achieve reunification.
"The reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability," Xi emphasized, calling for a shared sense of purpose among those on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, citing it as essential for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The upcoming elections in Taiwan have been taking place against a backdrop of strained relations between the two entities. Beijing has intensified military pressure in its efforts to reinforce its sovereignty claims over Taiwan. China's disapproval was particularly directed at current Vice President Lai Ching-te, a presidential candidate representing Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), whom Beijing labeled a dangerous separatist.

The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office criticized Lai's remarks during a televised presidential debate, condemning him as a "stubborn worker for Taiwan independence" and a disruptor of peace in the region. According to Beijing, the DPP-led government, in power since President Tsai Ing-wen's inauguration in 2016, has actively promoted separatism, impeding cross-strait exchanges and harming the interests of Taiwan's people.
Despite their willingness to engage in dialogue with China, both Tsai and Lai have faced repeated rejections from Beijing. The DPP maintains that the future of Taiwan should be determined solely by its people, a stance echoed by Lai's main opponent, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's largest opposition party.
The Kuomintang, historically inclined toward fostering close ties with China, vehemently denies any pro-Beijing affiliation. Hou Yu-ih has also accused Lai of advocating for independence, aligning with Beijing's criticisms.
The historical context of Taiwan's status as the haven for the defeated Republic of China government following the civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who established the People's Republic of China in 1949, remains a pivotal aspect of the tensions between both sides.
Lai's assertion that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other further ignited tensions, a sentiment previously expressed by him and President Tsai, which Beijing has vehemently opposed.
The dynamics between Beijing and Taipei continue to be complex and sensitive, with the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty remaining a focal point of contention. As the upcoming elections draw closer, the rhetoric from both sides underscores the deep-rooted divide and the intricacies of the relationship between mainland China and Taiwan.
This exchange of statements and the underlying political discourse highlights the challenges in achieving a resolution between China and Taiwan. This suggests that the path toward reunification remains elusive amidst differing perspectives on the island's future.
IndraStra Global Staff has not edited this story, which is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.

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