'China will not renounce use of force to unify Taiwan,' says President Xi Jinping; vows to strengthen military
By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 16, 2022, 12:56 PM ISTXi's pledge to complete the reunification of China, which means the merger of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, received a prolonged round of applause from over 2,300 elected delegates attending the Congress. Xi, also the General Secretary of the CPC, said the party must stand firm on its strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue and be determined to reunify the nation.
As he is all set for a record 3rd five-year term in power and perhaps for life, President Xi Jinping on Sunday warned that China will not "renounce the use of force" to unify Taiwan with the mainland and vowed to advance the modernisation of the country's military to world-class standards to protect national sovereignty, security and developmental interests.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, but China views the self-ruled island as a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve unification.
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"We will not renounce the use of force and will take all necessary measures to stop all separatist movements" in Taiwan, Xi said on the opening day of the week-long key once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), which is widely expected to confer an unprecedented 3rd five-year term on him.
Except for Xi, all the top leaders of the party, including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang, would be replaced or reshuffled during the Congress as the administration headed by 69-year-old Xi is completing a 10-year tenure. However, the Congress is expected to endorse Xi's continuation as he has already been declared a 'core leader' of the party on par with its founder Mao Zedong.
Xi's continuation in power will formally end the over three decade practice of its top leaders retiring after completing two-five-year tenures.
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In a show of unity, almost all retired former leaders of the party -- including Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao, former president Jiang Zemin and former premier Wen Jiabao along with a host of former leaders -- attended Sunday's opening ceremony at the ornate Great Hall of the People and were seen cheering key aspects of his speech spanning one hour 45 minutes.
Xi's pledge to complete the reunification of China, which means the merger of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, received a prolonged round of applause from over 2,300 elected delegates attending the Congress. Xi, also the General Secretary of the CPC, said the party must stand firm on its strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue and be determined to reunify the nation.
"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots," Xi said.
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The president said the wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi also said China will have to come up with capacity and institutes to ensure food, energy, key industrial and supply chains, and the lawful rights of Chinese citizens overseas.
(With inputs from PTI)
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