China, which considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory, has stepped up efforts under Xi to say its sovereignty claims, including regular flights by fighter jets and bombers on the brink of the island.
“Solving the Taiwan question and realizing the entire reunification of the motherland are the unswerving historical tasks of the Chinese Communist Party and therefore the common aspiration of all Chinese people,” Xi said during a speech on the 100th birthday of the ruling Communist Party.
“All sons and daughters of China, including compatriots on each side of the Taiwan Strait, must work together and move forward in solidarity, resolutely smashing any ‘Taiwan independence’ plots.”
In response, Taiwan’s China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said while the Communist Party had achieved “certain economic development”, it remained a dictatorship that trampled on people’s freedoms and will embrace democracy instead.
“Its historical decision-making errors and protracted harmful actions have caused serious threats to regional security,” it added.
Taiwan’s people have rejected the “one China principle”, which states the island is a component of China, and Beijing should abandon its military intimidation and talk with Taipei on an equal footing, the council said.
“Our government’s determination to firmly defend the nation’s sovereignty and Taiwan’s democracy and freedom and to take care of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait remains unchanged.”
While China has never renounced the utilization of force to bring Taiwan under its control, Xi involved a process of “peaceful reunification”.
Still, he said that no one should “underestimate the Chinese people’s strong determination, firm will, and formidable ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a war to Mao Zedong’s Communist Party.
Most Taiwanese have shown no interest in being ruled by China. Taiwan says only the island’s people can decide their future and has decried Chinese pressure.
China believes Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen may be a separatist bent on declaring independence. She says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name.
