Chinese President Xi's 'Taiwan' message: 'By any means necessary...'

Chinese President Xi Jinping made remarks regarding the Taiwan issue during a speech at a symposium held at the Great Hall of the People to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China.

Emphasizing that China's reunification is an "inevitable trend," a "just cause of the Chinese nation," and the "desire of the people," Xi stated, "Our motherland must be reunified, and it will surely be reunified."

Xi declared that they would prevent those who wish to separate Taiwan from China "by any means necessary."

ELECTIONS IN TAIWAN

It is noteworthy that the Chinese leader's message comes ahead of the leadership election to be held in Taiwan in early 2024.

The Beijing administration views the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the island's election, Vice President Lai Ching-te, as "pro-independence" and a "separatist."

It is predicted that tensions between China and Taiwan will increase if the DPP wins the election.

According to a report published in the Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Wang Zaixi, a retired major general and former deputy director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, claimed at a meeting in Beijing on December 23 that Lai's victory in the elections would create a risk of war, describing him as a "stubborn and radical independence activist."

Emphasizing that the risk of war cannot be ignored if Lai comes to power, Wang said, "There is great uncertainty regarding the Taiwan elections, but one thing is certain: Taiwan's independence means war. Insisting on Taiwan's independence will sooner or later lead to war."

CHINA-TAIWAN TENSION

Following World War II in China, the Communists, who emerged victorious in the civil war between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT/Kuomintang) forces led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) forces led by Mao Zedong, declared the establishment of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

The members of the Kuomintang who lost the civil war settled in Taiwan and established a provisional government there, claiming that the "Republic of China" government, founded in 1912, continued on the island.

Taiwan, which the People's Republic of China claims as part of its territory, has had de facto independence since 1949. The separation between mainland China and Taiwan still continues.

The Beijing administration emphasizes that it does not rule out the use of force if necessary for the island's reunification with the mainland.