01 January 2024 , 23:00
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China's leader has used his New Year's speech to make a chilling hint at a "reunification" with separated Taiwan.
Xi Jinping gave his televised address, saying the nation would "surely be reunified" with the island of 23million people. While Taiwan has never formally declared itself independent, its current government vows it is - in spite of China claiming it as a province.
The island split from the mainland in 1949 during the civil war. But in recent years, Mr Xi's administration has been increasingly asserting its sovereignty over Taiwan through ramped-up military pressure, and the leader has vowed to reunify the two by 2049.
Despite not making any direct military threats in his New Year's speech, the leader said: "China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose." Beijing has never ruled out using military action to force Taiwan back under its rule.
Taiwan holds its election later this month (RITCHIE B TONGO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The speech came days ahead of Taiwan's next scheduled democratic election on January 13. Current vice president and election frontrunner William Lai has been dubbed a "separatist" by Beijing officials, while both he and the incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic People's Party, have been accused of trying to provoke their mainland neighbours.
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Experts have also warned of the potential for interference in this month's election, with Taiwan's government claiming China has been increasingly inserting itself through religious groups and giving sponsored tours of the mainland to some 400 village chiefs on the island. According to Taiwan’s election ministry, 157 people are currently under investigation and one man has been charged over suspected election interference in 77 alleged cases.
Mr Xi has described the possible reunification as "the Chinese dream", speaking ahead of a year which will mark the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Responding to the speech, Taiwan's president meanwhile reiterated that the island's people would determine their own future but expressed wishes for "healthy and orderly" relations across the straight.
“Facing global conflict between democracy and freedom and authoritarianism, Taiwan’s only choice in the future is to continue to uphold democracy and protect peace,” Ms Tsai said. Election hopeful William Lai meanwhile said he was open to discussions with China.
His opponents in the upcoming vote, Hou Yu-ih of the China-friendly Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party, have both said more communication with China is needed to maintain peace.