R Krishna Das
The statement of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday regarding the reunification with Taiwan has hinted the possibility of Beijing going soft with its self-ruled island.
President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that Beijing hoped Taiwan could be reunited peacefully with the Chinese mainland, warning that those who opposed this would be “judged by history”.
“To achieve the reunification of the motherland by peaceful means is most in line with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including our compatriots in Taiwan,” Xi told a meeting in Beijing commemorating the 110th anniversary of the 1911 uprising that toppled the last Qing emperor and led to the founding of the Republic of China.
But the Chinese leader also warned that “Taiwan independence is the greatest obstacle to national reunification and the most grave hidden danger to national rejuvenation.” The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland will be and can be realized, Xi added.
Although Xi did not mention the use of force for reunifying Taiwan with the mainland, he did call the issue “purely an internal matter… that brooks no external interference.” In past speeches, Xi has struck a more aggressive tone when referring to Taiwan policy.
In a January 2019 speech, the Chinese leader said that Beijing would “make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means” to prevent independence and reunify Taiwan with the mainland.
Xi’s speech comes at a time tension is flaring up in the Taiwan Strait after Chinese warplanes — including advanced fighters and nuclear-capable bombers — conducted nearly 150 sorties into Taiwan’s ADIZ in the first five days of October.
“First yield a big stick, and then show the carrot,” Wen-Ti Sung, a lecturer at the Australian National University and expert on Taiwan-China relations, wrote on twitter. He called Xi’s speech on Saturday a “remarkable softening down on Taiwan policy… after a week of intense military posturing.”
