The head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office called on the people of Taiwan on Tuesday to promote the process of “peaceful reunification”, saying this is the common desire of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Song Tao's message, which comes less than two weeks before Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13, follows President Xi Jinping's comments in his New Year's speech: “China will certainly be reunified and all Chinese people of Both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
In Song's New Year's message, posted on his office's website, the official said that “the motherland will eventually be reunited, and will inevitably be reunited.”
Song says this is the common desire and mission of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The people of Taiwan should “promote cross-Strait relations to return to the right path of peaceful development and promote the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland,” he said.
Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims. Both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, say only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
China has offered Taiwan a “one country, two systems” autonomy model, but no mainstream Taiwanese party supports this idea.
Song reiterated China's support for “one country, two systems” and opposition to Taiwan's formal independence or “interference from external forces.”
His message did not mention the election, which the Taiwan Affairs Office has presented as a choice between war and peace.
China continues military pressure around the island, has ended some tariff cuts for Taiwan and threatened new sanctions as the vote approaches.
See also: Reunification with Taiwan is inevitable, says Xi Jinping
Source: CNN Brasil
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