Pursuing Taiwan unification high on Xi's third term agenda: MND
ROC Central News Agency
08/31/2023 09:04 PM
Taipei, Aug. 31 (CNA) Pursuing unification with Taiwan is likely to be high on the agenda during Chinese President Xi Jinping's (習近平) third five-year term that began earlier this year, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a new report.
The MND based its analysis on three events that have taken place since the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), held last October, that cemented Xi's grip on power in the party following a major leadership shuffle.
At the congress, the CCP wrote the "one country, two systems" formula into its party constitution, which sets more definitive guidance on the party's Taiwan policy, the MND said.
The concept was first proposed by the late leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) in the 1970s to promote the policy of peaceful unification with Taiwan.
Another indication was the first speech given by Xi at the 14th National People's Congress, after he was elected for an unprecedented third term as president, in which he vowed to lead the CCP to "solidly" promote the "great cause of national reunification," it added.
The report added that the line-up of the 20th Central Military Commission (CMC), China's highest national defense organization, also suggested Xi considered unifying with Taiwan to be at the top of his third term agenda.
Xi has prioritized those with expertise in military technology, combat experience and experience handling matters related to Taiwan in the appointing of CMC generals, the MND said.
The MND added that He Weidong (何衛東) was appointed to hold one of the two CMC vice chairmanships because he was well versed with People's Liberation Army (PLA) military readiness, which would be an asset in the event of a cross-Taiwan Strait conflict.
His recent post was as commander of the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, during which he was responsible for Taiwan and East China Sea contingencies.
The MND said the PLA's Rocket Force aims to establish precise strike capabilities against adversaries in the first island chain by 2027, referring to the chain of islands that make up Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
It added that the PLA also aims to construct a comprehensive and versatile ground force, to modernize its navy so it is able to counter adversaries spanning from the first island chain to the second island chain by 2035, and to extend the attacking range of the air force to the second island chain by 2035.
The second island chain consists of a number of Japanese islands, as well as Guam and Micronesia.
Meanwhile, the PLA's Strategic Support Force is expected to be critical in China's ability to conduct information warfare, the report said.
The MND also noted that the PLA would continue to engage in military actions of varying intensity in the sea and air around Taiwan.
Such actions by the PLA were aimed to test and assess its ability to respond to external intervention in a conflict and to demonstrate its ability to deter external military forces from coming to Taiwan's aid, according to the report.
(By Matt Yu and Shih Hsiu-chuan)
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