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China's Xi says Taiwan 'reunification' must happen as history cannot be stopped
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the inevitability of Taiwan's "complete reunification" with China in a speech, pledging peaceful means without mentioning the use of force.
- Xi reiterated China's "one country, two systems" policy and willingness to engage in talks with Taiwan under the "one-China principle," while opposing Taiwan independence movements.
- Taiwan's government dismissed Xi's remarks as consistent with past statements and reported increased Chinese military activity around the island, including patrols by fighter jets and drones.
- The speech coincided with the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth, whom both China and Taiwan regard as a national hero, though their political narratives differ significantly.
- Xi's address precedes the APEC summit in Shenzhen, where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump, and comes ahead of important local elections in Taiwan amid ongoing cross-strait tensions.
