Xi Attempts to Ease Tensions, Assuage Hawks on Taiwan
United Daily News, October 10, 2021
The Chinese Communist Party held a meeting to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the 1911 republican revolution. It was expected that Chinese President Xi Jinping would give an important talk. However, regarding the issue of Taiwan, Mr. Xi cited the reunification theory of Sun Yat-sen from a hundred years ago in his speech as a basis and emphasized that the historic task of China's reunification must be realized and can certainly be achieved. No new or specific paths have been proposed. Peaceful reunification, “One Country, Two Systems,” as well as the "One China” principle and the “1992 Consensus” are still floating high in the air. In contrast to the heightening talks of reunification by military force from people in the mainland, Xi's remarks are meant to assuage internal pressures within the mainland supporting reunification by military force.
Mr. Xi did not propose a practical path to explore the "Taiwan plan" for the "One Country, Two Systems" formula like he did in 2019. He only made principled and programmatic reminders. In this regard, Xi is revising his once overly optimistic “Taiwan Plan.”
Mr. Xi once again stated that he will: “achieve reunification peacefully and in a way that is most in line with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including those in Taiwan.” This is not so much a dialogue with the Taiwanese society, but rather a dialogue with the increasing number of people who support reunification through military means in the mainland society. He believes that unification by force is not in the overall interests of the nation, and the harm that will be caused by unification by force must be fully looked at and calculated.
Mr. Xi stated that achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires not only a stable and united domestic environment, but also a peaceful and stable international environment. This key phrase shows that Xi recognizes the increasingly tight, integrated alliance against China from the West may be harmful, and might disrupt the process of China's rise. He must work hard to create a peaceful environment, instead of frequently showing his “muscles.” However, he still warned foreign forces attempting to interfere in the cross-strait affairs, stressing that the “Taiwan issue” is purely China's internal affairs and that others should not underestimate China’s determination to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mr. Xi used Sun's old saying to call for national sentiment: "I hope that the leaders will put the responsibility of rejuvenating China on their own shoulders." He hoped that the Chinese people at home and abroad will unite and advance bravely towards the goal of the Chinese nation's rejuvenation. "Relaxation" is the true tone of this conversation. From the time Xi and Biden arranged a video conference between the American and Chinese leaders until now, it is evident that Xi needs more time to solve international, economic problems, as well as internal socio-economic problems affecting the people's livelihood.