Xi Jinping’s ‘Reunification’ Rhetoric Intensifies Ahead of Taiwan Elections
In a notable shift in rhetoric, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in his New Year’s address that the ‘reunification’ of China and Taiwan is ‘a historical inevitability’. This statement, markedly more aggressive than previous addresses, comes as Taiwan is poised for its presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13, amid strained relations and escalating military pressure from Beijing.
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China’s Stance on Taiwan
China has long viewed Taiwan as its ‘sacred territory’ and has not ruled out the use of force to assert its sovereignty. However, in this latest address, Xi did not mention military action. Instead, he urged individuals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to unite for the ‘rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office echoed Xi’s sentiments, with its head, Song Tao, calling on Taiwan’s people to aid the process of ‘peaceful reunification’.
Taiwan’s Response and the Upcoming Elections
As the election draws near, Taiwan’s stance remains firm. The government rejects China’s sovereignty claims, asserting that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. This sentiment is echoed by both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its main opposition, the Kuomintang (KMT). Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, responding to Xi’s ‘reunification’ speech, underlined the importance of democracy in the decision-making process and the necessity for China to respect the outcome of Taiwan’s election.
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The DPP’s presidential candidate, current Vice President Lai Ching-te, who leads in opinion polls, has been labeled by China as a ‘separatist’ and ‘destroyer of peace’. Yet, Lai has maintained that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China ‘are not subordinate to each other’, a stance that has further irked Beijing.
The Historical Backdrop
The current tensions must be viewed in light of the Republic of China government’s retreat to Taiwan in 1949 following a civil war, a fact that remains Taiwan’s official name. The KMT, traditionally pro-unification, has found itself rejecting claims of being pro-Beijing in the current political climate. Meanwhile, China continues its military pressure around the island and threatens further economic measures as the Taiwan elections approach.
