1-1-2024 (TAIPEI) Chinese President Xi Jinping rang in the new year with fresh assertions that Taiwan’s “reunification” with China is inevitable, statements the self-ruled island promptly rejected ahead of upcoming leadership elections.
In his January 1 address, Xi declared the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” requires all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait be bound by a “common purpose.” He said the island’s assimilation by China is assured.
The remarks come as Beijing ramps up military intimidation of Taiwan, which it views as Chinese territory. Democratic Taiwan has governed itself since 1949 but never formally declared independence.
In response, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said any change to cross-strait relations must reflect the will of Taiwan’s people, not be unilaterally imposed. She called on China to respect the island’s January 13 presidential vote.
Both Tsai’s ruling party and the main opposition also reiterated that only Taiwan’s citizens can decide their future. The statements rebuff Xi’s assertion that reunification is unavoidable.
The war of words highlights festering tensions as Taiwanese head to the polls. Though seen as mere rhetoric, Xi’s latest comments underscore how any move by Taiwan towards formal statehood could trigger China’s armed response.
Tsai is expected to win re-election partly by framing the vote as defiance of Beijing’s encroachment. But with China doubling down on assimilation threats, de-escalating cross-strait frictions will fall to the next president.
