On the 20th, China aggressively launched a campaign against Taiwan, stating that the sovereignty claims emphasized by the newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei constituted a declaration of “Taiwan independence” and asserting that Taiwan must be reunified. This move suggests a challenging future for cross-strait relations.
During the regular briefing, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to a reporter’s question about Lai Ching Te’s assertion of Taiwan’s sovereignty in his inaugural speech, saying, “The path to Taiwan’s independence is a path to death.” He emphasized that any efforts to promote Taiwan’s independence under any banner or slogan have failed.
Wang further emphasized, “The ‘One China’ principle is a universal consensus in the international community and a fundamental norm in international relations. It is the political foundation and precondition for China’s relations with countries worldwide. I want to stress that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory, and the People’s Republic of China government is the sole legitimate government representing all of China.”
Wang stated, “No matter how the situation in Taiwan changes, the historical and legal fact that both sides belong to one China, the basic structure of the international community recognizing ‘one China,’ and the historical trend that China will ultimately and certainly be unified, cannot be changed.”
He further argued, “Certain politicians from some countries handling the Taiwan issue arbitrarily or making a show of it is a serious interference in China’s internal affairs. China strongly condemns this and will take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity resolutely.” He stated, “The day will inevitably come when China completes reunification.”
Although Lai did not explicitly mention “Taiwan’s independence” in his inaugural speech, China’s stance seems quite different. Beijing appears to view Lai as advocating for ‘independence’ similar to his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. This is why diplomatic sources in Beijing predict that the cross-strait relations will struggle to find a breakthrough in the foreseeable future.
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