CCP Congress: Xi Doesn't Rule Out Use of Force in Taiwan, Reveals Army Aspirations

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The 20th Congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opened on Sunday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"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," Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening of the Congress.

China will continue its military reform, so that by 2027, which will mark the centennial of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing will achieve its intended goal of having a world-class armed force, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

"Achieving the goal of a hundred-year struggle to build an army within the scheduled time frame and accelerate the transformation of the People's Liberation Army of China is a strategic requirement for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist state," Xi said on Sunday, at the opening of the 20th Congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

He stressed that it is necessary to boost China’s strategic capabilities to protect state sovereignty, security and development interests.

China will sincerely seek peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but cannot exclude the use of force, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

"With all our efforts, we sincerely insist on the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and reserve 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 said.

He said that Beijing's measures will in no case be directed against the majority of Taiwanese compatriots.

Xi went on to underlined the importance of improving the mechanisms for combating sanctions, as well as enhance the national security system and form a "comprehensive and effective protection system" of the country.

"It is necessary to improve the mechanisms of combating sanctions, external interference and extraterritorial jurisdiction," the Chinese president said.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers it necessary to accelerate the process of turning the country into a leading world industrial power, including in the development of manufacturing industry, astronautics, transport and network technologies, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

"It is necessary to establish a modern production system, promote a new type of industrialization, accelerate the process of China's transformation into a leading world industrial power in terms of the level of development of the manufacturing industry, astronautics, transport and network technologies, as well as the product quality, and accelerate the digitization of China," Xi said at the opening of the 20th Congress of the CCP.

The Chinese leader also stated the need to strengthen and develop the public sector of the economy, encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector, and exercise the role of the government more actively.

Beijing will also strengthen its food and energy security, Xi said.

"It is necessary to strengthen security capacity in key areas, ensure food security, as well as security in the field of production and supply chains," the Chinese leader concluded.

A total of 2,296 delegates have arrived in Beijing from across China to participate in the key week-long event that will wrap up on October 22.

The delegates will determine the future course of the country's development, approving the national policy for the next five years, and will appoint the CCP’s top leadership.

Xi Jinping is expected to be nominated for a third five-year term as CCP’s General Secretary and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

In the past 10 years, China has been able to comprehensively strengthen its security, implement the CCP's idea of ​​strengthening the army, and deepen national defense reform, Xi said at the opening of the 20th Congress. He emphasized that socialism has entered a new historical period in China, which has won the fight against poverty and has successfully created a moderately prosperous society.

Xi said that China resolutely defends impartiality and fairness in international relations, advocates and practices true multilateralism, and is against hegemonism and the politics of brute force.