Hands Off Taiwan, Xi Warns World, Only China Will Decide Reunification Course

'Beijing Reserves Right To Use Force, And All Measures Necessary'

President Xi Jinping on Sunday warned that China will "not renounce the use of force" to unify Taiwan with the mainland. He also vowed to advance the modernization of the country's military to "world-class standards" to protect national sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state - but China views the self-ruled island as a breakaway province that must be reunified. "We will not renounce the use of force and will take all necessary measures to stop all separatist movements in Taiwan," Xi said on the opening day of the week-long key once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China, which is widely expected to confer an unprecedented third five-year term on him.

Jinping's speech struck a sharper tone, warning the world that China, and China alone, would decide how and when to bring about unification. Referring to Taiwan earlier in his speech than he did five years ago, Xi stressed that China would "continue to strive for peaceful reunification," but he also said China reserved the right to use force and "all measures necessary." "This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and a few separatists seeking Taiwan independence," he said. The focus on external forces signalled growing recognition by China that Taiwan has become more of a priority for the US, as well as for a number of countries.