Chinese Communist Party Premier Li Keqiang delivers a government work report at the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (March 5, 2021)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday (March 5) that it is necessary to be highly vigilant and resolutely curb “Taiwan independence” secessionist activities and promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the reunification of the motherland. Taiwan’s Land Commission responded by saying it would firmly defend national sovereignty and Taiwan’s democratic freedoms.
Opening the fourth session of China’s 13th National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People on Friday, Li Keqiang said during his government work report that he needed to be highly vigilant and resolutely curb “Taiwan independence” secessionist activities. He also said, “We must adhere to the general policy on Taiwan, adhere to the one-China principle and the ‘1992 Consensus’ and promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the reunification of the motherland.”
He also mentioned the need to improve the system and policies to protect the well-being of Taiwan compatriots and enjoy equal treatment in the mainland, promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation and integration and development, and create a bright future of national rejuvenation with one heart.
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan responded by saying that Taiwan’s public opinion has long advocated maintaining the status quo, and the government’s cross-strait policy of promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait has been consistent, and will continue to firmly defend national sovereignty and Taiwan’s democratic freedoms.
The Mainland Affairs Council also said that both sides are responsible for healthy cross-strait interaction, and that healthy and orderly exchanges are better than coercive pressure on Taiwan.
China has been exerting pressure on Taiwan recently. On the military front, China has sent planes and warships to threaten Taiwan. Two weeks ago, Chinese warplanes also conducted military drills near Taiwan-controlled islands in the South China Sea, forcing Taiwanese warplanes to take to the air in an emergency warning. On the economic front, Chinese customs recently announced the suspension of Taiwan’s pineapple (known as pineapple in Taiwan) imports to the mainland due to repeated detections of “quarantine pests,” which DPP officials say is a political crackdown on Taiwan from the mainland.
The Land Commission said: “We call on the other side of the Taiwan Strait to carry out a healthy interactive relationship, to make relative efforts and commitment, in an attitude of mutual respect, goodwill and understanding, face up to and respect the Taiwan public on the dwarfing of Taiwan’s political framework and negative unification pressure as opposition and questioning, and really pragmatic thinking about good initiatives, through communication to gradually resolve differences, and indeed protect the rights and interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. “
As China continues to exert pressure on Taiwan, two Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a joint resolution last Friday calling on the Biden administration to restore formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and “end the outdated and counterproductive ‘One China Policy.
Jiang Qichen, chairman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang party, also said in a recent interview with Reuters that there is no market for one-country, two-system rule in Taiwan. He said China’s proposal to give Taiwan a high degree of autonomy through “one country, two systems” is like Beijing’s management of Hong Kong, which has no market in Taiwan and people like freedom.
In addition to his work on Taiwan, Li also mentioned Hong Kong and Macau in his government work report. He said, we should continue to fully and accurately implement the policy of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong”, “Macao people ruling Macao” and a high degree of autonomy, improve the SAR’s system and mechanism related to the implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law. He also said that the SAR should “resolutely implement the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security.
He also said that he would “resolutely prevent and curb interference by external forces in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macao, support the economic development of Hong Kong and Macao, improve people’s livelihood, and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.”
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