(Scypre.com) – In his recent year-end address, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated his commitment to the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China.
Amidst escalating tensions between the two entities and with Taiwanese elections scheduled for January 13, Xi emphasized China’s steadfast position that Taiwan is an integral part of the nation and must be reunified, even if it requires the use of force.
During Sunday’s address, Xi stated, “All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” He further asserted, “The motherland will surely be reunified.”
This marks the second occasion in a short span where Xi addressed the Taiwan issue, as he also made a similar pledge during a symposium in Beijing commemorating the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth, the founding father of Communist China.
Xi emphasized, “The complete reunification of the motherland is an irresistible trend,” and declared China’s determination to “resolutely prevent anyone from splitting” the two sides.
Meanwhile, as Taiwan gears up for its upcoming elections, current opinion polls indicate a preference for the independence-leaning candidate Lai Ching-te among residents.
China has consistently opposed any international indication of Taiwan’s independence, evident in Xi’s military conducting live-fire exercises around the island in 2022 following a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The historical backdrop involves Taiwan’s separation from mainland China in 1949, when democratic forces retreated there after losing a civil war against the Chinese Communist Party.