On the eve of Communist China’s 75th anniversary, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to “Reunify” Taiwan with mainland China, as Beijing showcased its military strength in preparation for the national holiday.
During a state banquet celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xi emphasized his determination to achieve what he called the “Complete Reunification of the Motherland.” Addressing a large audience at the Great Hall of the People, he declared, “This is an unstoppable historical trend, a righteous cause, and the shared desire of the people. No one can stand in the way of history,” according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Although China’s Communist Party has never governed Taiwan, it views the island as part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to bring it under its control, even by force if necessary. However, many Taiwanese people see themselves as distinctly separate from China and have little interest in becoming part of it.
Since 1949, Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately following the Chinese Civil War. The Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, while the defeated Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, setting up the Republic of China government in Taipei.
Xi strongly opposed any move towards “Taiwan independence,” a pitch that echoes Beijing’s accusation against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a “dangerous separatist.” Tensions, since Lai entered the presidency in May after calling on China to stop intimidating Taiwan, have been at an all-time high.
The Taiwanese say there has been an increase in Chinese military activity near the island. China’s military recently held exercises aimed at demonstrating the capability to “seize control” of Taiwan. On Sunday, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it had gone into high alert after detecting several missile launches deep within China’s interior.
These moves come just days after China fired off an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean-a rare show of military capability that analysts said was a warning shot for the United States and its allies as regional tensions continue to ratchet up.
Taiwan represents one of the biggest flashpoints in US-China relations. While the United States has informal relations with Taiwan, a law binds it to provide Taiwan with defensive arms. On Sunday, President Joe Biden signed off on a further $567 million worth of military aid to Taiwan, the most significant amount so far, which includes defensive equipment and military training.
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