Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that Taiwan’s unification with the mainland is “inevitable”, warning against any effort to promote the island’s independence and saying China would not renounce the option of military force to bring it into the fold.
In a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of a message sent to Taiwan in 1979, in which Beijing called for unification and an end to military confrontation, Xi said “China must and will be united….. which is an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people in the new era.”
In his speech, Xi described unification under a “one country, two systems” approach that would “safeguard the interests and well-being of Taiwanese compatriots”.
“We make no promise to give
up the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means”
against Taiwanese separatist activities and outside forces that interfere with
reunification, Xi said.
China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory
to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of
a civil war on the mainland in 1949.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, with its own currency, political and judicial systems, but has never declared formal independence from the mainland.
Relations have been strained for the past two years since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to acknowledge Beijing’s stance that the island is part of “one China”.
On Tuesday, Tsai warned Beijing that Taiwan’s people would never give up the kind of freedoms unseen on the authoritarian mainland.
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Ms Kalinga