Chinese President Issues Warning: Conquering Taiwan is Inevitable

In a resolute statement on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that Beijing is committed to preventing the secession of Taiwan and asserted that the reunification of the island with the mainland is an inevitable trend. Speaking at a symposium marking the 130th birthday of Mao Zedong, President Xi addressed the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, outlining the determination to thwart any attempts at Taiwan’s secession through “any means.”

Highlighting the “complete reunification” of China as both a national interest and a desire of the people, Xi urged efforts to promote peaceful development in relations with Taiwan. He emphasized the importance of integrated development “in all fields” to further strengthen ties. China considers Taiwan an integral part of its sovereign territory and has consistently warned against any moves to declare independence, asserting that such actions would lead to war.

President Xi reiterated these sentiments during his meeting with US President Joe Biden in California last month, emphasizing China’s willingness to provide “plenty of space” for peaceful reunification but firmly opposing any separatist actions by Taipei.

As Taiwan prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections on January 13, Xi’s speech did not explicitly reference these events or the potential use of force against the island. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, Lai Ching-te, has positioned himself as an advocate for Taiwanese independence, accusing Beijing of threatening the island with armed force.

The historical context of Taiwan’s status was also touched upon in Xi’s speech. Originally known as Formosa, the island was ceded to Japan in 1895 and later reclaimed by China in 1945 after Japan’s surrender in World War II. Following the Chinese nationalists’ evacuation to the island in 1949, Taipei was declared the capital of the Republic of China. The UN recognized Beijing as the legitimate government of China in 1971, leading to the de-recognition of Taiwan by many countries. In 1972, the US acknowledged Beijing’s position that “there is but one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China.”