Xi Jinping Omits 'Peaceful Reunification' with Taiwan, Emphasizes 'Striking Independence' and Military Strength

Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a warning to Taiwan's independence forces, notably omitting the mention of "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan for the first time in a speech marking the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.
Analysts suggest that by simultaneously emphasizing strict party control and detailing goals for a stronger military, President Xi is laying the groundwork to consolidate his grip on power both internally and externally ahead of the 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, where his potential fourth term will be decided.
During his speech at the 105th anniversary ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of July 1, President Xi stated, "We must resolutely strike against separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and oppose interference by external forces," adding that the great cause of reunification must be firmly pursued.
He called for adherence to the "One China" principle and the "1992 Consensus" (an agreement from 1992 that recognizes "One China" while allowing each side to use its own designation), and defined the reunification of Taiwan as a "historical mission" and a "shared aspiration."
The term "peaceful reunification" has not been used in any of President Xi's speeches commemorating the founding of the Communist Party until now.
In his speeches for the 95th anniversary in 2016 and the 100th anniversary in 2021, he had referred to a "bright path toward peaceful reunification" and the "process of peaceful reunification of the motherland," respectively.
Given that the anniversary speech is considered a political declaration that outlines the broad direction of state governance and foreign strategy, this shift is being interpreted as a sign that China's stance on Taiwan has become more hardline.
Some analysts suggest that the pressure regarding Taiwan's reunification, combined with the more specific military goals and the focus on party control presented in the speech, reflects President Xi's determination to secure a fourth term.
While his 2021 speech focused on building a moderately prosperous society in all respects (Xiaokang), this year's address emphasized strategic tasks such as Chinese-style modernization, national security, party building, and strengthening party discipline, placing weight on future development plans.
In particular, he emphasized the "strong military thought," which is China's military guiding ideology, and presented phased goals such as promoting military modernization, realizing the goals for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the military, and building a world-class people's military.
The goal for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the military refers to a plan to enhance the modernization and combat capabilities of the Chinese military by August of next year, the centenary of the People's Liberation Army.
Regarding the strengthening of party leadership, maintenance of discipline, anti-corruption struggles, and enhancing the sense of responsibility among party members, he indirectly touted the achievements of purging corrupt forces by stating, "We have resolutely removed all elements that damage the purity of the party."
Over the past year, five out of the seven members of the Central Military Commission, including Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, have been removed from their posts.
Tang Renwu, a professor at Beijing Normal University, observed to the Singapore-based Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that "compared to the 100th-anniversary speech in 2021, this speech shifted from reflecting on the past to planning for the future," suggesting that it has laid the foundation for the 21st Party Congress.
Reporting on the speech, Reuters assessed that "the Chinese Communist Party leadership, facing external challenges ranging from Western-led technology restrictions to unstable trade relations with the U.S. and tensions over Taiwan, considers strengthening its control over all aspects of Chinese society a key task."
It is also noteworthy that the speech contained no rhetoric against the U.S. or the West, which is often expressed as hegemony or unilateralism.
In 2021, President Xi had made somewhat aggressive remarks, stating that bullying or pressure from external forces would not be tolerated, and that "anyone who attempts such delusions will find their heads bashed bloody against a great wall of steel forged by the flesh and blood of 1.4 billion Chinese people."
In 2016, he warned the U.S., saying, "No foreign country should expect us to trade away our core interests."
This change is being evaluated as an expression of China's willingness to manage bilateral relations stably following the U.S.-China summit held in Beijing last May.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.