Despite increased military threats against the self-governing island, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that a “peaceful” reunification of Taiwan with China’s mainland was in Beijing’s interests.
Xi spoke at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he emphasized the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to lead China as the country grows in power and influence.
“The nation’s reunification must be accomplished, and it will undoubtedly be realized,” Xi declared before a crowd of legislators, military people, and others assembled in the mammoth chamber that serves as China’s ceremonial legislature’s seat.
“The most in keeping with the overall interest of the Chinese country, including Taiwan compatriots, is peaceful reunification,” the leader stated.
Xi’s comments came only days after China’s military flew a record number of military planes towards Taiwan in exercises that the self-ruled island has described as a threat. The mainland People’s Liberation Army flew fighter planes, bombers, and airborne early warning aircraft 149 times towards Taiwan over four days beginning last week with the largest single maneuver involving 52 jets.
In 1949, after a civil war, Taiwan and China divided, with the Nationalist Party retreating to the island while Mao Zedong’s Communists surged to power on the mainland.
The 110th anniversary of the Chinese revolution that led to the toppling of the Qing monarchs and the establishment of the Republic of China under Sun Yat-sen was commemorated at a ceremony in Beijing on Saturday. Xi’s speech touched on mutual hopes for a united future, despite the significant disparities between China’s repressive one-party system and Taiwan’s thriving multi-party democracy, which is celebrated on October 10th.
This year’s National Day celebrations will include a rare exhibition of military equipment, including missiles, as well as a performance by fighter jets, which will take place on Sunday in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei’s downtown district.
This is the first time in years that military weapons have been included in official Taipei celebrations, and the first since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen assumed office in 2016.
Large missile launch vehicles were seen moving through Taipei’s streets in local media coverage of the celebration rehearsals, though the missiles themselves were not seen.
According to Kuo Yu-Jen, a military studies expert at Taiwan’s Institute for National Policy Research, the Taiwanese government has kept its missile capabilities hidden from the public eye in the past to avoid seeming confrontational.
As Beijing grows “overly pushy,” Taipei believes it “must demonstrate that Taiwan has the potential to counter China’s threat,” according to Kuo.
In previous years, choreographed performances by motorcycle-riding military police and overflights by the island’s air force have been part of the national day celebration. Missiles, on the other hand, were not part of the show.
“I believe this is to boost the morale of the Taiwanese people,” said Fan Shih-ping, a political science professor at National Taiwan Normal University.
Taiwanese President Tsai has prioritized national defense over her predecessor from the more pro-China Nationalist Party, reviving the island’s shipbuilding sector and establishing a program to build submarines on the island. She has also implemented military reforms, such as enhancing the quality of food supplied in the mess halls and improving benefits for military personnel.
The situation with China, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng warned legislators on Wednesday, “is the most severe in the 40 years since I enrolled.” Later, Chiu told reporters that he anticipated China would have “complete” invasion capabilities by 2025.
Taiwan has been self-ruled since the split, but Beijing continues to deny its sovereignty, refusing to give up the possibility of using force to reclaim the island. Beijing has also attempted to isolate Taiwan internationally by barring it from the United Nations and other international organizations, as well as opposing official contacts between its government and countries that recognize China, particularly the United States, which is legally obligated to regard threats against Taipei as “grave concern.”
Officials from the United States and Japan have cautioned that China’s expanding capabilities constitute a growing threat to Taiwan’s and the region’s security.
“The Taiwan issue is fundamentally a Chinese internal matter that does not allow outside involvement,” Xi remarked on Saturday. “No one should underestimate China’s strong determination, will, and capabilities to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
