China’s latest white paper on its stance on self-ruled Taiwan comes after Beijing conducted an unprecedented day-long Chinese military drill near the island, which it claims to be its territory, in protest of US President Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week.
The White papersa publication reflecting the official position of the government on a particular subject.
Taiwan rejects China’s claims to sovereignty, says the island’s people must decide its future and pledge to defend its democracy.
In two previous white papers on Taiwan, in 1993 and 2000, China said He “will not send troops or administrative personnel to Taiwan” after the unification is achieved.
This sentence was not included in the latest white paper, which aims to ensure Taiwan enjoys self-governance after it became a special administrative region of China.
China’s ruling Communist Party suggested that Taiwan could return to its rule under the “one country, two systems” model,
Similar to the formula in which the former British colony, Hong Kong, returned to Chinese rule in 1997. This would give democratically governed Taiwan some autonomy to partially preserve its social and political order.
Missing from the 2000 White Paper is the phrase “anything can be negotiated” as long as Taiwan accepts that there is only one China and does not seek independence.
The updated white paper is titled “The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era.” “New Era” is a term commonly associated with Xi’s rule.
Cover image: VCG / VCG via Getty Images
