Key points
- Beijing pushes for peaceful reunification model
- Taiwan rejects China’s “patriots” model for autonomy
BEIJING: China has reiterated its refusal to rule out the use of force in its dealings with Taiwan, as stated by a government spokesperson. This marks a sharp contrast to recent state media reports, which suggested that Beijing would offer Taiwan a peaceful reintegration, promising to respect the island’s existing social system if it comes under Chinese control.
China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, has never abandoned the option of using force to achieve what it calls “reunification.”
However, this policy is not often publicly stated and was absent from a series of recent commentaries by Xinhua, which outlined how a “patriotic” government might rule Taiwan post-reunification, reports Reuters.
Beijing’s peaceful approach
Peng Qing’en, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasised that the goal of peaceful reunification under the “one country, two systems” model remains China’s primary approach to resolving the Taiwan issue.
He reiterated that Beijing is committed to creating opportunities for peaceful reunification but stressed, “We absolutely will not renounce the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures.”
This rhetoric came despite China’s top official overseeing Taiwan policy, Wang Huning, focusing solely on the benefits of reunification during a recent speech, without mentioning the use of force.
Taiwan’s democratic system
The renewed push for Taiwan’s autonomy under the “patriots” model, which Beijing has proposed, has been rejected by the Taiwanese government. Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen stated that the model, which China implemented in Hong Kong and Macau, holds no appeal in Taiwan, according to Reuters.
He argued that this approach seeks to undermine Taiwan’s international standing and ultimately eliminate its sovereignty, a goal the Chinese Communist Party has long pursued.
Taiwan’s democracy, a vibrant and diverse political system, sharply contrasts with Beijing’s vision. Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996, and its candidates are free to express any views, including pro-independence or pro-Beijing positions.
