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Xi Jinping says Taiwan 'must and will be' reunited with China | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the people of Taiwan to accept it "must and will be" reunited with China. | Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the people of Taiwan to accept it "must and will be" reunited with China. |
In a speech marking 40 years since the start of improving ties, he reiterated Beijing's call for peaceful unification on a one-country-two-systems basis. | In a speech marking 40 years since the start of improving ties, he reiterated Beijing's call for peaceful unification on a one-country-two-systems basis. |
However, he also warned that China reserved the right to use force. | However, he also warned that China reserved the right to use force. |
While Taiwan is self-governed and de-facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland. | While Taiwan is self-governed and de-facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland. |
Beijing considers the island to be a breakaway province and Mr Xi's comments are in line with China's long-standing policy towards reunification. | |
Mr Xi said both sides were part of the same Chinese family and that Taiwanese independence was "an adverse current from history and a dead end". | Mr Xi said both sides were part of the same Chinese family and that Taiwanese independence was "an adverse current from history and a dead end". |
Taiwanese people "must understand that independence will only bring hardship," Mr Xi said, adding Beijing would never tolerate any form of activity promoting Taiwanese independence. | Taiwanese people "must understand that independence will only bring hardship," Mr Xi said, adding Beijing would never tolerate any form of activity promoting Taiwanese independence. |
Instead, unification was "an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people", he argued. | Instead, unification was "an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people", he argued. |
He also stressed that relations with Taiwan were "part of China's domestic politics" and that "foreign interference is intolerable". | He also stressed that relations with Taiwan were "part of China's domestic politics" and that "foreign interference is intolerable". |
Beijing "reserves the option of taking all necessary measures" against outside forces that interfere with peaceful reunification and Taiwanese separatist activities. | |
What is the view in Taiwan? | What is the view in Taiwan? |
One day ahead of Mr Xi's speech, Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen said Beijing should accept the existence of Taiwan and use peaceful means to resolve its differences. | One day ahead of Mr Xi's speech, Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen said Beijing should accept the existence of Taiwan and use peaceful means to resolve its differences. |
"I would like to call on China to face squarely the reality of the existence of the Republic of China on Taiwan," Ms Tsai said, referring to the island's formal name. | "I would like to call on China to face squarely the reality of the existence of the Republic of China on Taiwan," Ms Tsai said, referring to the island's formal name. |
China should "respect the insistence of 23 million people on freedom and democracy, and must use peaceful, on parity means to handle our differences", she added. | China should "respect the insistence of 23 million people on freedom and democracy, and must use peaceful, on parity means to handle our differences", she added. |
In November, Ms Tsai's political party saw a heavy setback in regional elections perceived by Beijing as a blow to her separatist stance. | In November, Ms Tsai's political party saw a heavy setback in regional elections perceived by Beijing as a blow to her separatist stance. |
Why is this so contentious? | Why is this so contentious? |
Taiwan is a self-governed democracy and for all practical purposes has acted as an independent nation since 1950, when China's nationalist government was defeated by communist forces and fled there from the mainland. | Taiwan is a self-governed democracy and for all practical purposes has acted as an independent nation since 1950, when China's nationalist government was defeated by communist forces and fled there from the mainland. |
China however considers the island to be a renegade province - not a country in its own right - which will one day be fully reunited with the mainland. | China however considers the island to be a renegade province - not a country in its own right - which will one day be fully reunited with the mainland. |
In recent years, Beijing has become increasingly assertive over its claims and what it says is a key question of national sovereignty. | In recent years, Beijing has become increasingly assertive over its claims and what it says is a key question of national sovereignty. |
China, for instance, insists that other countries can only have diplomatic ties with China or Taiwan, not both. | China, for instance, insists that other countries can only have diplomatic ties with China or Taiwan, not both. |
Beijing has won over more and more of Taipei's few international allies to cut diplomatic ties with the island and establish relations with China instead. | Beijing has won over more and more of Taipei's few international allies to cut diplomatic ties with the island and establish relations with China instead. |
Last year, it also forced foreign airlines and hotels to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites. | Last year, it also forced foreign airlines and hotels to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites. |