China Confident it is ‘Closer Than Ever’ to Achieving 'Complete Reunification of the Motherland'

Beijing emphasized the need to “take resolute steps to oppose 'Taiwan independence’ and promote reunification” in a resolution adopted at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that wrapped up on 22 October.

China is taking steps towards the “complete reunification of the motherland”, a spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated on Wednesday.

“We’re closer than ever in history - and we’re more confident and capable than ever - to realizing national rejuvenation,” Ma Xiaoguang said at a regular news briefing in Beijing, without directly referring to Taiwan, seen by China as an inalienable part of its territory:

“Similarly, we’re also closer than ever in history - as well as more confident and capable - to realizing the complete reunification of the motherland.”

The spokesman’s veiled reference to Taiwan was made after a question regarding to the speech delivered by China's head of state, Xi Jinping, at the beginning of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

At the congress, held between 16 and 22 October, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who secured a third term in power, said the "wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification [with Taiwan]".

"In the face of serious provocations by separatist forces calling for Taiwan’s independence, and interference from outside forces, we have resolutely waged a major struggle against separatism and interference, demonstrating our strong determination and wide ability to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose Taiwan independence," Xi Jinping said at the opening of the Congress.

“The complete reunification of our country must be realized and it can without a doubt be realized,” the Chinese leader added.

Although voicing hope for the prospect of peaceful reunification, China's president emphasized that his country would "never promise to renounce the use of force" and reserved the possibility of "taking all necessary measures against the interference of external forces and the extremely small number of pro-Taiwan independence separatists and their secessionist activities". Xi added that Beijing's moves will in no way be targeted against the majority of Taiwanese compatriots.

Furthermore, in a resolution adopted on the final day of the event on 22 October, the CPC stressed the necessity of adhering to the One-China principle and the 1992 Consensus between Beijing and Taipei, as well as implementing the CPC’s “overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era”.

“We should take resolute steps to oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ and promote reunification, maintain the initiative and the ability to steer in cross-Strait relations, and unswervingly advance the cause of national reunification,” the CPC underlined.

Sun Yeli, a spokesman for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, said at a press conference on the eve of the congress’ opening, that Beijing's goal is to promote the process of peaceful reunification of the island with the Chinese mainland. He stressed that “peaceful reunification is in China's interests [and] the number one choice for the Taiwan issue".

A military solution to the issue is “the last resort”, the spokesman added, accusing “Taiwanese separatists” of provocations and "outside forces" of using Taiwan to contain China.

Taiwan, governed independently from mainland China since 1949, when it split from the mainland during a civil war that resulted in the Communist Party taking control, is considered by Beijing as a breakaway territory. With Beijing’s official policy envisaging a peaceful unification of Taiwan with mainland China, the Communist Party opposes any official contacts between the island and other countries.

However, despite Washington shifting its recognition of the legitimate Chinese government from Taipei to Beijing in 1978, it has maintained active contacts with Taipei, selling billions of dollars of weapons to the self-ruled island.

Beijing has repeatedly said that the One-China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations and that violations by Washington of its own obligations have been jeopardizing cooperation between the two countries, while posing a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The situation regarding Taiwan escalated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August in a move condemned by China as a provocative gesture of support for separatism. In response, Beijing launched large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island. However, other high-level US delegations have since visited Taiwan.