The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

 The report delivered at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is seen by delegates from the island of Taiwan as significantly heralding the development of cross-Straits relations and the historical trend of reunification. It is also a solemn commitment the Party has made to history and to the people. 

"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese," said Xi Jinping at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots," he said.

Jiang Erxiong, president of the Fujian Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, also a delegate to the 20th CPC National Congress, said that the report’s content regarding the island of Taiwan shows high historical responsibility and firm confidence, which demonstrates the mainland’s determination, confidence and strength in guiding the development of cross-Straits relations and pushing forward reunification.

The report’s content about Taiwan won one of the biggest rounds of applause from the delegates. Qiu Feng, president of the Jiangsu Federation of Taiwan Compatriots and one of the delegates from Taiwan island, said that such applause is an affirmation that reunification is the common voice of the whole Party, army and country. 

Li Ting, president of the Henan Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said that the report has further explained the Party’s overall plans for solving the Taiwan question, and that it points toward reunification and shows the Party’s resilience, good will and determination in solving the Taiwan question.

Jiang said that after studying the report, which said “we will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort,” he believed that the Party is unwaveringly sticking to the basic principle of “peaceful reunification” and One country, Two Systems, while showing good will and creating space for peaceful reunification. 

Meanwhile, the sentence “we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary” demonstrates our bottom line, said Jiang, noting that the report also separated general Taiwan compatriots from a small group of secessionists, fully expressing the Party’s good will of respecting, caring and seeking benefits for Taiwan compatriots.

A total of 10 delegates from the island of Taiwan participated in the 20th CPC National Congress, which runs from October 16 to 22 in Beijing. 

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference in September that Taiwan compatriots who actively join the CPC and other political parties, participate in politics and contribute to the construction of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics are acting as a force for national reunification.

Jiang said that Taiwan compatriots are part of the Chinese nation, and their destiny is closely connected with the national rejuvenation and the country’s prosperity. 

Wang Hui, associate president of the Beijing Taiwan Compatriots Association, said that China should use specific examples and powerful measures to explain to Taiwan compatriots that reunification is good, while “Taiwan secessionism” is a dead end and external forces cannot be relied upon. 

Global Times