Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Sunday during his year-end address reiterated his stance on the reunification of Taiwan with mainland.
Xi promised the two entities will join forces, which has resulted in high-tension levels between the two and Taiwanese voters are preparing to participate in their country’s elections on January 13.
Xi maintained that the Taiwan issue is significant to the Chinese mainland and that reunification was inevitable. He reminded both sides of the Taiwan Strait to uphold the meaning of the one-China principle, adding that the Chinese rejuvenation would be incomplete without the reunification of Taiwan. He also emphasized that reunification might happen by force if necessary.
During a symposium in Beijing commemorating the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth, Xi vowed to reunify Taiwan once again. He stated that the complete reunification of the Motherland is an irresistible trend and that China would prevent anyone from splitting Taiwan and the mainland. These words solidified his message that China’s claims towards Taiwan are non-negotiable.
Taiwan’s citizens look forward to electing their next leader, Lai Ching-te. According to the prevailing opinions, Ching-te leans towards the notion of Taiwan’s independence. Xi has made it clear that this is unacceptable and any political action indicating a push for Taiwan’s independence would not be tolerated.
Taiwan separated from mainland China in 1949 when democracy forces fled after losing a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party. However, ever since then, Taiwan’s independence has not been recognized by China. Xi’s government conducted live-fire exercises around Taiwan for weeks after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the country.