Rescinding Earlier Promise To Not Send Troops To Island
The Chinese government has updated its official policy on Taiwan to remove an earlier commitment to allow the island to operate autonomously with its own government and systems in the event China took control, signaling Beijing’s unwillingness to offer any concessions as it continues to fume over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week.
China revealed an updated policy document on Taiwan on Wednesday which removes the promise that it “will not send troops or administrative personnel to be based in Taiwan,” after achieving “reunification” with the island.
According to Reuters, previous versions of the document published in 1993 and 2000 included this line which indicated that Taiwan—which has a democratically elected government—would be able to retain its systems.
The earlier proposal was similar to the system—known as “one country, two systems”— that was implemented in Hong Kong after the British handed over control of the island to Beijing.
The paper is titled ‘The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era’ with the phrase “new era” being used as a shorthand for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rule.
Xi, who is set to secure an unprecedented third term as China’s President, has been less willing to allow democratic autonomy, as evidenced by his government’s recent crackdown on dissent and changing of laws in Hong Kong which only allow approved candidates to run for elections.
The Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday announced the end of its ongoing drills around Taiwan—which were originally scheduled to end on Sunday—but said it will carry out regular patrols near the island going forward.
CRUCIAL QUOTE
The Chinese policy document notes: “We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities.”
CHIEF CRITIC
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council expressed opposition to the document in an official statement and referred to it as “full of wishful thinking, disregarded facts and false claims.” The statement added: “Such crude and clumsy political manipulation by the Beijing authorities further highlights its arrogant pattern of vainly trying to use force to invade and destroy the Taiwan Strait and regional peace.”
KEY BACKGROUND
China started its military drills surrounding Taiwan last week after a U.S. Congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island and met with its leadership.