Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

As media reports have noted, the 2024 and 2025 government work reports on Taiwan-related content emphasize "China will firmly advance the cause of reunification" but do not mention "peaceful reunification." When asked whether this indicates a change in the mainland's position, the spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Chen Binhua responded on Wednesday that China is willing to make the utmost effort and show the greatest sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification in resolving the Taiwan question. "If 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces provoke, coerce, or challenge the bottom line and cross red lines, we will be forced to take decisive measures," he said.

"Peaceful reunification and 'One Country, Two Systems' remain the fundamental policy for resolving the Taiwan question and are the best path to reunification, benefiting people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the Chinese nation as a whole," Chen noted.

Currently, the situation in the Taiwan Straits remains complex and severe, as the Democratic Progressive Party authorities collude with external forces to provoke "Taiwan independence," seriously harming cross-Straits relations and regional stability. "We have the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capability to thwart any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist schemes, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely advance the great cause of national reunification," Chen said.

The Taiwan affairs work conference was held in Beijing from February 25 to 26, emphasizing the need to combat provocations aimed at "Taiwan independence" and, for the first time, introducing the concept of shaping the inevitable trend of national reunification, according to Chen.

Chen stated that the fundamental factor shaping cross-Straits relations is the Chinese mainland's development and progress. Since the new era, the mainland has been steadily promoting high-quality development, with new productive forces steadily improving, and its economic strength, technological capabilities, comprehensive national power, and international influence continuously enhancing. The solid steps taken in Chinese-style modernization have laid a stronger foundation and greater capability for resolving the Taiwan question, effectively shaping the inevitable trend of national reunification.

The motherland must be unified and will inevitably be unified. This is a historical conclusion drawn from the development of cross-Straits relations, a necessary step in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and a historical trend that cannot be stopped by any force, Chen stressed.

"Taiwan independence" is a dead end. Reliance on outsiders is unreliable, and unification cannot be stopped. "We sincerely hope that the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots recognize the situation clearly, 

align with history, strengthen their confidence as Chinese, and work together with the mainland to achieve national reunification as soon as possible, ensuring long-term prosperity and sharing in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Chen said.

Global Times