China proffers ‘peaceful reunification’ with Taiwan
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan on Sunday as well as resolute steps to oppose Taiwan independence.
Speaking at the opening of the annual meeting of China’s parliament in Beijing, Li said Beijing stands by the “one China” principle, which states that Taiwan is part of China.
The government should “take resolute steps to oppose Taiwan independence and promote reunification”, he told the roughly 3,000 delegates. “We should promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance the process of China’s peaceful reunification.”
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Taiwan’s China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said Beijing should face up to the reality that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate to each other”.
China should “respect the Taiwanese people’s commitment to the core concepts of holding fast to the sovereignty, democracy and freedom of the Republic of China”, it said, using Taiwan’s formal name.