Xi Jinping vows to strike Taiwan independence forces, push for reunification

Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed his vow to pursue reunification with Taiwan and stressed the importance of military strengthening in a speech Tuesday marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

Speaking that morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said China must "resolutely strike Taiwan independence separatist forces and oppose interference by external forces," adding that the country must "firmly advance the great cause of national reunification."

Xi said resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is "a historical mission that our party has consistently pursued and the common aspiration of all Chinese people." He said China must uphold the "One China" principle and the 1992 Consensus — an understanding reached in 1992 under which both sides acknowledged a single China while reserving the right to their own interpretations of what that means.

Xi also pressed the party's core military doctrine, known as "thought on strengthening the military." He said a strong nation must have a strong army, and that a strong army is the guarantee of national security. "We must fully implement the party's thought on strengthening the military in the new era and carry out the military strategic guidelines of the new era," he said.

He called on the military to advance the modernization of national defense and armed forces at a high level, achieve the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule, and accelerate efforts to build the military into a world-class force.

Xi also hailed the party's 105-year history as "a proud and brilliant record," while cautioning against complacency. He urged the party not to become arrogant or self-satisfied, nor to rest on past achievements, and called for the full construction of a strong socialist modern country by the middle of this century to fulfill the party's second centenary goal.