{"id":235029,"date":"2021-10-13T13:01:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T20:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=235029"},"modified":"2022-09-09T18:11:40","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T01:11:40","slug":"in-speech-commemorating-xinhai-revolution-xi-says-reunification-with-taiwan-inevitable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2021\/10\/in-speech-commemorating-xinhai-revolution-xi-says-reunification-with-taiwan-inevitable\/","title":{"rendered":"In Speech Commemorating Xinhai Revolution, Xi Says “Reunification” With Taiwan Inevitable"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a speech marking the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, Xi Jinping said peaceful \u201creunification\u201d with Taiwan is inevitable and claimed Sun Yat-sen\u2019s legacy as the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s own. The Xinhai Revolution<\/a> overthrew the Qing Dynasty and led to the establishment of China\u2019s first democratic republic. October 10, the date of the Wuchang Uprising that sparked the revolution, is celebrated in Taiwan as National Day. Xi asserted that<\/a> the Taiwan issue \u201carose out of the weakness and chaos of our nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality.\u201d Xi\u2019s speech on Taiwan and the revolution comes amidst high tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Huizhong Wu of The Associated Press reported on Xi\u2019s speech<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cReunification of the nation must be realized, and will definitely be realized,\u201d Xi vowed before an audience of politicians, military personnel and others gathered in the hulking chamber that serves as the seat of China\u2019s ceremonial legislature.<\/p>\n

\u201cReunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots,\u201d the leader added.<\/p>\n

[\u2026] \u201cThe Taiwan question is purely China\u2019s internal affair, which tolerates no external interference,\u201d Xi said on Saturday. \u201cNo one should underestimate the Chinese people\u2019s strong determination, will and capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u201d [Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The speech was more restrained than the martial fare Xi offered during celebrations marking the CCP\u2019s 100th anniversary in July<\/a>. Although in his July speech, Xi notably refrained from putting a deadline<\/a> on \u201creunification\u201d (the term is in quotation marks because Taiwan has never been part of the People\u2019s Republic of China), he promised to \u201cutterly defeat\u201d any efforts towards Taiwanese independence. Yet Xi\u2019s comparatively calm rhetoric in his latest speech was belied by a number of bellicose actions taken against Taiwan by the People\u2019s Liberation Army Air Force. Over 150 PLA Air Force planes flew into Taiwan’s ADIZ (air defense identification zone) during early October, in what one anonymous source told Reuters<\/a> might be simulated attacks on a U.S. carrier fleet. (See The China Story for a visual<\/a> of the incursions, which are happening in the southwestern corner of Taiwan\u2019s ADIZ.) Chinese plans often fly into Taiwan’s ADIZ\u2014in April of this year the number of such missions raised unrealized specters of war<\/a>. Yet scholars such as Oriana Skylar Mastro of Stanford University believe that war is a real threat. \u201cEven moderate voices in Beijing have been calling for tossing out peaceful reunification, I think the military option is the option now,\u201d she told The New York Times<\/a>. As if to underscore her point, state-run tabloid Global Times republished a series of cartoons<\/a> depicting a PLA invasion of Taiwan:<\/p>\n

\n

Here\u2019s \u201cthe landing operation\u201d. You won\u2019t find any of Taiwan\u2019s ~24 million civilians in it. <\/p>\n

In fact, you won\u2019t find them in any of the grotesque war fantasies of Chinese mainland cartoonist "JeffHoly."<\/p>\n

Shamefully promoted by the party-state backed GT https:\/\/t.co\/8xy75DMxbK<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QLtH459C7a<\/a><\/p>\n

— Will Glasgow (@wmdglasgow) October 13, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n