Xi Jinping says Taiwan reunification must happen, Taipei dismisses remarks as familiar

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that the complete reunification of the motherland must be realised and will certainly be realised.

Speaking at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at an event marking the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, Xi said resolving the Taiwan question is an "unwavering historical mission" of China's Communist Party.

"The tide of history cannot be stopped," Xi added. "The complete reunification of the motherland must be realised, and it will certainly be realised."

Xi said China adheres to "peaceful reunification and the policy of 'one country, two systems'" and is willing to talk to Taiwan while upholding the "one China" principle. He did not mention the use of force.

Taiwan's government dismissed the remarks. Its Mainland Affairs Council said neither the government nor Taiwan's people could accept "one country, two systems," which would ultimately mean submitting to the Communist Party's rule.

"As for the wording on Taiwan unification, it isn't much different from the past," council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh told reporters.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 29 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, carrying out a "joint combat readiness patrol" around Taiwan in conjunction with Chinese warships, starting on Thursday.

Xi's speech comes a week ahead of the APEC summit in China's southern tech hub of Shenzhen, where he is due to again meet US President Donald Trump, and also a little more than two weeks before important local elections in Taiwan.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.