China's Xi Jinping calls for 'peaceful' reunification with Taiwan
China’s reunification with Taiwan will happen peacefully, President Xi Jinping said days after apparent threats by the Chinese military.
Mr Xi made the remarks at an official celebration in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. The event focused on the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to lead China.
He told the audience: “Reunification of the nation must be realised, and will definitely be realised.
“Reunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots.”
Mr Xi added that “Taiwanese separatism is the biggest obstacle to the motherland’s reunification,” saying those who advocated for independence would be “condemned by history”.
Mr Xi’s remarks came just days after a record number of Chinese military aircraft flew towards Taiwan in exercises that were viewed as a threat.
Over four days starting last week, the People’s Liberation Army flew fighter jets, bombers and airborne early warning aircraft 149 times towards Taiwan. The largest exercise involved 52 jets all at once.
The event on Saturday celebrated the 110th anniversary of the Chinese revolution in 1911, when the Qing dynasty was overthrown and the Republic of China was established and led by Sun Yat-Sen.
In Taiwan, October 10 is celebrated National Day.
China could be capable of launching a "full-scale" invasion of Taiwan by 2025, Taiwan's defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, told local journalists on Wednesday.
"With regards to staging an attack on Taiwan, they currently have the ability. But (China) has to pay the price," he said.
But by 2025, that price will be lower, he said.
Taiwan was split from China during the civil war in 1949, when the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) fled to the island as Mao Zedong’s Communist Party took over the mainland.
Taiwan has a multi-party democracy, but its sovereignty is denied by Beijing.
China, which operates on an authoritarian one-party system, has sought to bar Taiwan from the United Nations and other international organisations.
US and Japanese officials have warned China's growing capabilities pose a rising threat to Taiwan.
Mr Xi said on Saturday: “The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, which tolerates no external interference. No one should underestimate the Chinese people’s strong determination, will and capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The UK, US and Australia struck a defence deal in September, which China believes is an attempt to push back at it.
On announcing the deal, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, spoke in vague terms and said the deal will help "sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region".