Xi Jinping Declares Taiwan’s Reunification with China an ‘Historical Inevitability’
In his annual New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced his commitment to the reunification of mainland China and Taiwan, declaring it an ‘historical inevitability.’ This assertive tone marks a stark contrast to his previous year’s speech, and it comes at a critical time as Taiwan prepares for the presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13.
Xi’s emphasis on the shared destiny of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the common goal of rejuvenating the Chinese nation underscores Beijing’s persistent claim to sovereignty over Taiwan. However, despite increased military pressure on the island, Xi refrained from mentioning any explicit military threats in his address.
The dialogue between China and Taiwan remains fraught with tension. Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te, a presidential candidate for the Democratic Party (DPP) and a frontrunner in the polls, has been labelled a separatist and a disruptor of peace by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office. The DPP government under President Tsai Ing-wen has been accused by China of promoting separatism since its inception in 2016. Both Tsai and Lai have extended invitations to China for talks, all of which have been declined, maintaining the stance that Taiwan’s future should be determined by its people.
Interestingly, despite the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s largest opposition party, favoring closer ties with China, its candidate Hou Yu-ih also refutes claims of being pro-Beijing. Like Tsai and Lai, Hou supports the idea that the people of Taiwan should decide their own future.
