On the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 75th birthday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated his pledge to achieve “unification” with Taiwan as Beijing uses military force for the National Day.
At a state dinner celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic on Monday, President Xi stressed in his speech his determination to achieve “the complete reunification of the motherland.”
“This is an irreversible trend, a cause of justice, and a common aspiration of the people. No one can stop the march of history,” he said at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, state news agency Xinhua news agency reported. He spoke to thousands of people.
Although China’s ruling party, the Communist Party, has never ruled Taiwan, it claims it as its own territory and seeks to “reunify” it with an autonomous democratic state, even using force if necessary. ” I have vowed to do so.
However, many people on the island consider themselves distinctly Taiwanese and have no desire to be part of communist China.
The two countries have been ruled by separate governments since 1949, after the end of the Chinese civil war. The Communists seized power in Beijing and founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, while the defeated nationalists fled to Taiwan and moved the location of the Republic of China from the mainland to Taipei.
Successive Chinese leaders have vowed to one day rule Taiwan, but Mr. Xi, the most assertive Chinese leader in decades, has stepped up his rhetoric and attacks on the democratic island and This has heightened tensions across the region and raised concerns about military conflict.
“Taiwan is China’s sacred territory. Blood is thicker than water, and people on both sides of the strait are connected by blood,” Xi told a group of 3,000 people, including officials, former party leaders and foreign dignitaries. He spoke at a banquet attended by the above.
He also called for deepening economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and promoting “spiritual harmony between compatriots on both sides.”
“We must resolutely oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities,” Xi said.
Beijing has called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-de a “dangerous separatist” and tensions have been high since he took office in May, when Lai called on China to stop threatening Taiwan.
Taiwanese officials have said Beijing has stepped up military activity around the island in recent months, including in a bid to test Taiwan’s ability to “seize power” by the Chinese military. This includes exercises announced by the military in May.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that it had detected “multiple waves” of missile launches deep in China’s interior and was on alert.
The ministry said in a statement that the missiles were fired by a rocket unit of the People’s Liberation Army in inland areas of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, adding that Taiwan’s air defense “maintains a high degree of vigilance and is on high alert.” We are strengthening it,” he added. Please be careful. ”
This comes just days after China launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in 44 years. It was an unusual public test that analysts say was aimed at sending a message to the United States and its allies amid rising tensions in the region.
The Taiwan issue has become a major point of contention between China and the United States. The United States maintains close, unofficial ties with Taipei, and is legally required to supply Taiwan with weapons for its own defense.
On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden approved an additional $567 million in military aid to Taiwan, the largest aid package the United States has given to Taiwan. The White House said in a statement that the funding would cover “military education and training” as well as defense articles.
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