BEIJING, Nov 12: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday reiterated Beijing’s determination to achieve the country’s reunification with Taiwan, describing the goal as an inevitable historical mission and firmly rejecting any move towards the island’s independence.
Xi made the remarks while addressing a ceremony at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People commemorating the 160th birth anniversary of Sun Yat-sen, a prominent Chinese nationalist leader respected on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Emphasising the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) commitment to national unity, Xi said reunification was essential to the country’s long-term national rejuvenation and reflected the collective aspirations of the Chinese people.
“Resolving the Taiwan question and realising the complete reunification of the motherland is an unwavering historical mission for the CPC, the shared aspiration of all Chinese people, and a natural requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and maintains that the island must eventually be brought under Beijing’s control. It has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of military force if necessary to achieve that objective.
Xi called upon people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as Chinese communities across the world, to oppose what Beijing describes as separatist forces advocating Taiwan’s independence.
He also urged efforts to strengthen peaceful relations across the strait and advance the process of national reunification.
While maintaining a firm position on sovereignty, the Chinese president expressed Beijing’s willingness to engage with individuals and groups in Taiwan who support dialogue on cross-strait relations.
He said discussions would be conducted on the basis of the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, an informal understanding between representatives of the two sides that there is only one China, although differences remain over its political interpretation.
Xi said his government would consider Taiwan’s circumstances and the interests and sentiments of its people while pursuing its reunification policy.
However, he made clear that Beijing would not tolerate activities aimed at promoting Taiwan’s formal independence.
“We will definitely give full consideration to Taiwan’s realities and take full account of the interests and feelings of our compatriots in Taiwan,” Xi said, adding that there would be no room for separatist activities in any form.
Describing reunification as an unavoidable historical development, Xi expressed confidence that the objective would eventually be achieved.
“The historical trends are unstoppable. The complete reunification of our motherland must be realised, and it can, without doubt, be realised,” he said.
The Chinese leader also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful reunification under the framework of “one country, two systems”, which Beijing has proposed as a possible arrangement for Taiwan.
The remarks underline China’s continued emphasis on territorial integrity and its longstanding opposition to Taiwan’s independence, even as Beijing maintains that dialogue remains possible under its established political principles.