Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared that reunification with Taiwan is an unavoidable historical mission, insisting that the island’s eventual unification with mainland China cannot be stopped.
Speaking at a ceremony at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday, Xi said the Chinese Communist Party remained committed to achieving what he described as the complete reunification of the country.
“The tide of history cannot be stopped. The complete reunification of the motherland must be realised, and it can, without doubt, be realised,” Xi said.
The ceremony marked the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader widely regarded as the founding father of modern China.
Xi reiterated Beijing’s commitment to peaceful reunification under its “One Country, Two Systems” framework, saying China was willing to engage in dialogue with people in Taiwan who supported the “One China” principle.
He also called on people across the Taiwan Strait and Chinese communities overseas to unite against what Beijing describes as separatist forces seeking Taiwan’s independence.
However, Xi made no direct reference to the use of military force in his speech. Beijing has never ruled out military action to bring Taiwan under its control.
Taiwan’s government swiftly rejected the remarks. Its Mainland Affairs Council urged Beijing to recognise the continued existence of the Republic of China and respect the island’s democratic system.
The council stressed that the People’s Republic of China had never governed Taiwan and that neither government was subordinate to the other. It also said Taiwan’s future must be decided by its 23 million people, rejecting the “One Country, Two Systems” proposal.
The council described Xi’s latest comments on reunification as largely consistent with Beijing’s longstanding position.
Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have continued amid China’s growing military activity around the island. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported detecting 29 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, conducting a joint combat readiness patrol alongside Chinese warships around Taiwan on Thursday.
China regularly deploys military aircraft and naval vessels around the island, which Beijing considers part of its territory despite Taiwan’s self-governing status.
Xi’s remarks come ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China, where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump.
Taiwan is also preparing to participate in the summit through its appointed representative, Acer founder Stan Shih. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has stressed that the island must be treated on an equal basis with other APEC members.
The developments come amid continuing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan’s political future, as well as growing concerns about the wider security implications of China’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.
