Beijing is committed to peaceful island reunification, but opposes foreign meddling and separatism.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warned Taiwan against foreign interference and separatist tendencies. Taiwan is considered to be in Beijing’s sovereignty. The official spoke at an annual session of parliament on Saturday, saying that China is keen to establish peaceful relations and eventually reunify the island.
“All of us, Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, should come together to advance the great and glorious cause of China’s rejuvenation,”“The premier stated.”
The head of the Chinese cabinet made the remarks as he was delivering his working report to members of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), which they are to approve. The NPC and a separate advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), launched their two-week annual sessions on Friday.
The Communist Party’s annual meetings are used to discuss China’s military and economic plans. This year’s gatherings are remarkable since later in the year President Xi Jinping is expected to continue his leadership of the country for an unprecedented third term.
Since the Chinese civil war in the 1940s, Taiwan has managed its own affairs. During which time defeated nationalist forces fled to Taiwan. Taipei claims to be representing the will of the Chinese people, but most of the world recognizes Beijing in that role under the so-called “One China policy.”
Tensions about Taiwan have been increasing over recent years due to new arms sales from Washington and the visits of semi-official American delegations, which Beijing considers undermining its claim to the island. China is increasing military activities in Taiwan to offset similar US actions.
Lately, there was speculation in Western media that Beijing may attempt to take over the island by force amid the security crisis in Europe caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Beijing refused to condemn Moscow’s attack and accused NATO and USA of making hostilities possible by not paying attention to Russian national security concerns. Moscow said its attack was necessary to curb threats emanating from Ukraine due to NATO’s creeping expansion into Ukraine.
Other parts of Li’s remarks, which covered Beijing’s relationship with Hong Kong, were notably devoid of condemnations of foreign meddling, which have been common in speeches by Chinese officials since the mass anti-government protests and rioting that gripped the autonomous city in 2019. Instead, Li focused on economic growth potential for Hong Kong and Macao as well as other Chinese cities throughout the Greater Bay Area.
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