Chinese Premier Li Qiang expressed China's determination to advance towards reunification and work with the Chinese population in Taiwan to achieve national rejuvenation. During the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Li emphasized the firm opposition to separatist activities in Taiwan and to external interference that hinders peaceful relations across the Strait.
These statements come at a time of rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing. Li's speech included plans to improve institutions and policies to promote economic, cultural exchanges, and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, although he did not detail specific measures in this regard.
Since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's government moved to Taiwan after the Chinese civil war, the island has maintained relative autonomy. However, China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and has expressed its intention to reunify the island with the mainland, not ruling out the use of force to achieve that goal, in line with the long-term plans outlined by President Xi Jinping since 2012.
In this context, China has intensified its diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, conducting military exercises near the island more frequently and causing the loss of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in favor of Beijing. For its part, the Taiwanese government, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, advocates for the de facto independence of the island and believes that its future should be determined solely by its 23 million inhabitants.
