Pursuing unification with Taiwan is likely to be high on the agenda during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) third five-year term that began earlier this year, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said in a report.
The ministry based its analysis on three events that have taken place since the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October last year cemented Xi’s grip on power in the party following a major leadership shuffle.
At the congress, the CCP wrote the “one country, two systems” formula into its party constitution, which sets more definitive guidance on the party’s Taiwan policy, the ministry said.
Photo: EPA-EFE / XINHUA / LI XUEREN
The concept was first proposed by the late leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) in the 1970s to promote the policy of peaceful unification with Taiwan.
Another indication was the first speech given by Xi at the 14th National People’s Congress, after he was elected for an unprecedented third term as president, in which he vowed to lead the CCP to “solidly” promote the “great cause of national reunification,” it added.
The report added that the lineup of the CCP’s 20th Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s highest national defense organization, also suggested Xi considered unifying with Taiwan to be at the top of his third term agenda.
Xi has prioritized generals with expertise in military technology, experience in combat and handling matters related to Taiwan, the ministry said.
It added that He Weidong (何衛東) was appointed to hold one of the two CMC vice chairmanships as he was well-versed with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) military readiness, which would be an asset in the event of a cross-strait conflict.
His most recent post was as commander of the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, during which he was responsible for Taiwan and East China Sea contingencies.
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