Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his strong commitment to unification with Taiwan, saying China must "resolutely strike Taiwan independence separatist forces." The remarks served as a warning not only to the United States but also to Japan, with which tensions have escalated over the Taiwan issue.
Xi made the comments in a speech at a commemorative meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. "We must oppose interference by external forces (on the Taiwan issue) and firmly advance the great cause of national reunification," he said. "Resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is a historic mission that our party has consistently pursued," he said, stressing that China "must uphold the 'One China' principle and the 1992 Consensus," an agreement to recognize "One China" while each side uses its own name.
Xi also invoked the "strong military doctrine," China's guiding military ideology, which calls for enhancing the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army by maintaining the party's absolute leadership. "We must advance national defense and military modernization to a high level and strive for the 100th anniversary of the army's founding (next August) on schedule," he emphasized.
Analysts say the "opposing Taiwan interference" remark was aimed at the United States and Japan. China has continued economic and industrial retaliatory measures since Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's remarks last November that "Japan would intervene in a Taiwan contingency." Most recently, at the end of last month, China added 40 Japanese institutions and companies to its list of export restrictions on dual-use items such as rare earths.
Also, during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in May this year, Xi reportedly asked directly whether "the United States would send troops to support (Taiwan) if China attacked Taiwan." This amounted to pressing that the Taiwan issue is China's top "core interest." Some interpret that the joint statement declaring "North Korea supports One China," issued by Xi and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, who visited Pyongyang in person last month to improve North Korea-China relations, also reflected China's extreme sensitivity on the Taiwan issue. Kim also sent a congratulatory message to this 105th anniversary event for the Chinese Communist Party, saying he "will continue to develop the North Korea-China friendship and cooperation relationship, which is the common wealth of the peoples of the two countries."
However, some assess that the tone of Xi's hardline message was somewhat softened compared with his past anniversary speeches, such as the 2021 remark that those who "bully China will have their heads bashed bloody against a Great Wall of steel." This is interpreted as reflecting that, while emphasizing security, Xi has prioritized party unity as a means to achieve long-term goals such as economic recovery.
