China reiterates reunification, Taiwan holds firm before elections
Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year's address affirmed Beijing's unwavering commitment to "inevitable" reunification with Taiwan, marking a firmer tone just weeks before Taiwan's crucial presidential and parliamentary elections.
"Reunification of the motherland is a historical destiny," Xi declared, though official English translations by Xinhua softened the phrasing to "China will surely be reunified." This sentiment stands in contrast to his 2023 New Year's address, which referred to Taiwanese and mainlanders as "members of one and the same family."
Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, has consistently rejected China's reunification claims. President Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintain that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
"Compatriots of both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be united by a common purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi stated, emphasising a shared cultural heritage, while the translated version used the broader term "all Chinese." This subtle difference highlights the ongoing dispute over nomenclature and national identity.
Further amplifying the tension, China has expressed strong disapproval of Tsai's likely successor, DPP candidate Lai Ching-te, labelling him a "separatist" and "distributor of peace in the Taiwan Strait." Lai, along with the opposition Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih, stand by the principle of self-determination for Taiwan.
The upcoming elections have sparked heightened anxiety amidst already strained relations between the two sides. Xi's assertive message on reunification raises concerns about potential escalation, while Taiwan's unwavering stance on self-determination suggests continued friction in the foreseeable future.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
