Xi Jinping again raises national reunification with Taiwan, speaks of peaceful cross-strait ties
At an event on the eve of China's National Day, Xi urged efforts to strengthen ties with Taiwan while taking a firm line against independence forces.
Amid tension between China and Taiwan, President Xi Jinping has once again raised the issue of national reunification with Taiwan. At an event on the eve of China's National Day, Xi appealed for efforts to strengthen ties with Taiwan further. Beijing has consistently maintained that the Taiwan question is linked to China's national unity and sovereignty.
Xi stressed the need to increase exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. He also called for a firm stance against forces working for Taiwan's independence, and said interference by external forces must be stopped. According to China, it is necessary to advance the goal of national reunification by promoting peaceful relations with Taiwan.
Earlier, in his talks with US President Donald Trump, Xi had said the United States should adopt a stance opposing Taiwan's independence. China has said its position on Taiwan is clear. However, there has been no indication that any major concrete agreement on Taiwan was reached in those talks.
Taiwan has its own democratic government and does not accept Beijing's claim of sovereignty. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory. For this reason, the Taiwan question is no longer merely a dispute between China and Taiwan. It has also become linked to the security equations of the United States and the Asia-Pacific.
After Xi's latest statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry has objected to China's position. Taiwan has alleged that Beijing is using facts to serve its political claims. Taiwan has also said there are no clear signs of a major change in US policy on Taiwan after the meeting between Trump and Xi.
Xi's statement has revived the question of whether China will take control of Taiwan. However, in this statement he did not announce any immediate military action against Taiwan. On the contrary, he spoke of the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and of increasing exchanges and cooperation. China has also maintained its opposition to Taiwan's independence and to external interference.
Going forward, diplomatic pressure, economic ties, military movements and US-China relations will remain important on the China-Taiwan question. Xi's latest statement has made clear once again that China has kept the reunification of Taiwan on its national agenda.
