Official details pathways to reunification

Mainland will exert utmost efforts to solve Taiwan question by peaceful means

The historical trend toward a stronger country, national rejuvenation and reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits cannot be stopped by any force or anyone, the mainland's top Taiwan affairs official has said.

"The time, tide and righteousness to resolve the Taiwan question have always been on the side of the forces that advocate unification," said Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in a bylined article published in Thursday's People's Daily, stressing that the national reunification is the "inevitable requirement" of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era.

The mainland has been putting forth efforts to prevent and tackle major hazards across the Straits to set up a beneficial environment for national rejuvenation, he said, adding that the rising comprehensive strength and remarkable institutional advantages have been pushing reunification forward.

Zhong Houtao, a Taiwan affairs researcher for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the "righteousness" Liu mentioned meant the legitimacy from historical and legal perspectives.

"On one hand, Taiwan is part of the inherent territory of China and was governed by the latter from of old," he said.

"On the other hand, the Cairo Declaration signed during World War II that terminated the Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan has made it clear that Taiwan belongs to China.

"More importantly, Liu's words also stand for the common aspiration of the 1.4 billion people in China," Zhong said, adding that reunification would be an irreversible trend.

Liu said the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China "has never and will not change", underlining that the one-China principle is the political foundation of cross-Straits relations and the "1992 Consensus" should be upheld.

"The Taiwan separatist forces are the biggest obstacle to reunification," he said, warning that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and no external interference will be tolerated.

"We will absolutely not allow anyone, any organization, any party to split any part of the territory from China at any time, in any form," Liu warned, adding that the reason why the mainland makes no promise to renounce the use of force is to ensure the prospects for peaceful reunification and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation including the people in Taiwan.

"We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification and explore a 'two systems' solution to the Taiwan question," the senior official said, stressing that the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" is the fundamental guideline of resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification.

In terms of how the principle is carried out in Taiwan, he said the mainland would "fully consider Taiwan's reality, give full consideration to the views and proposals from all walks of life on both sides and fully accommodate the interests and sentiments of our compatriots in Taiwan".

Liu highlighted that the peaceful and integrated development of the two sides would be important for the foundation of reunification.

"We insist consolidating the political, economic, cultural and social foundation of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," he said.

"We'll continue paving the way for compatriots in Taiwan to share first in the mainland's development opportunities and ensure that they gradually receive the same treatment as those from the mainland."

Zhong, the researcher, said deepening the integrated development of both sides is part of the mainland's effort for future reunification by enhancing the sense of belonging and identity of the people across the Straits.

"The reunification will be realized not only on a nominal level, but also from the bottom of hearts, which is relevant to integration in all aspects of society," he said.

"The integration process of both sides is actually the process of reunification, which is not a future tense but a progressive tense."

Liu, the Taiwan affairs official, also quoted President Xi Jinping's remarks saying the Taiwan question originated in a weak and ravaged nation, and it will definitely end with national rejuvenation, noting that the Communist Party of China has endeavored to pursue the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing complete reunification.