Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned Taiwan that it would face the “punishment of history” if it moves to split from China.
Xi made the comments in a speech to about 3,000 delegates at the end of the National People’s Congress legislative meeting in Beijing.
Xi discussed many issues during his speech but comments on Taiwan received a great deal of attention. He said mainland China would do more to permit Taiwan to take part in the “opportunities of China’s development.” He also called for efforts toward a “peaceful reunification of the motherland.”
However, Xi’s warning to the self-ruling island was the strongest yet and received the most applause of any part of the speech.
“Any actions and tricks to split China are doomed to failure and will meet with the people’s condemnation and the punishment of history,” Xi said. “The Chinese people share a common belief that it is never allowed, and it is absolutely impossible to separate any inch of our great country’s territory from China.”
China claims Taiwan, a self-ruling island of 24 million people, as part of its territory. The division came when the government of the Republic of China went to Taiwan in 1949 ending China’s civil war. The Chinese Communist Party took control of the mainland.
By the 1980s, Taiwan’s government had become increasingly democratic. Most Taiwanese oppose unifying with mainland China.
Xi has increased pressure on Taiwan since the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.
Tsai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party which supports independence from the mainland. However, Tsai has said she supports the status quo and has not sought a major change of policy.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokesman Andrew Lee said he was not concerned about Xi’s comments and called on other countries to support Taiwan. Lee said the island hopes to play a more active part in supporting “peace, stability and prosperity” in the area.
US Taiwan Travel Act calls for closer ties
The U.S. officially cut ties with Taiwan in 1979 when it recognized China. Unofficial ties were then governed by the Taiwan Relations Act that was passed the same year.
Last week, United States President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act law passed by Congress. The legislation is meant to make it easier for U.S. officials to travel to the island and meet with Taiwanese officials.
As part of that effort, a top U.S. State Department official is traveling to Taiwan. Alex Wong is deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He is to be in Taiwan until March 22 after meetings in Singapore.
Wong is expected to speak at a dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce. The event is meant to help American businesses meet with Taiwanese officials.
Bonnie Glasser is director of the China Power Project at the Center for International and Strategic Studies. She told VOA, “China’s growing political, military, and economic pressure on Taiwan is a threat to Taiwan’s security and harmful to U.S. interests.” She said increasing ties with Taiwan, “makes sense.”
The Taiwan Travel Act states that ties between the U.S. and Taiwan have suffered because of self-imposed U.S. restrictions.
China, however, has reacted angrily to the new legislation.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang urged the U.S.: “To correct its mistake, stop pursuing any official ties with Taiwan or improving its current relations with Taiwan in any substantive way.
The Chinese Embassy also released a statement. It said parts of the bill “severely violate the one-China principle, the political foundation of the China-US relationship.”
However, it remains to be seen how the Chinese president will answer the recent developments. Earlier this month, the Chinese government announced 31 measures that make it easier for Taiwanese to work, study and invest in China.
I’m Mario Ritter.
Bill Ide and Nike Ching reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
applause –n. a show of approval by clapping, striking one’s hands together over and over to make noise
absolutely –adv. completely
status quo –n. (foreign language term) the current situation, the way things are now
stability –n. a state of not being changed easily
prosperity –n. a state of being successful
pursue –v. to be involved in, to follow a path
substantive –adj. meaningful
foundation –n. something that provides support for something
allow –v. to permit, to let happen
self-imposed –adj. not given or required by someone else
principle –n. an idea that forms the basis of something, a truth
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