PEKING Economic and cultural cooperation with Taiwan and the “peaceful development” of relations should be promoted, Li Keqiang told the nearly 3,000 delegates. In the speech passage, the prime minister was more emotional, but overall somewhat more reserved than in the previous year, when he referred to the blood ties he emphasized, when he had expressly opposed “foreign interference” and “separatist activities” in Taiwan.
China regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic and ultimately threatens conquest if “reunification” cannot be achieved otherwise. However, Taiwan was never part of the communist People’s Republic founded in 1949 and has long considered itself independent. The island is of geostrategic importance due to its location on economically important straits, and US generals used to like to describe it as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier”.
Tensions around Taiwan had recently increased. China is maintaining military pressure with increased deployments of its air force and navy near Taiwan. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concerns are growing internationally that China could take similar action against Taiwan. The United States has been committed to Taiwan’s defense capability since 1979, which up until now has mostly meant arms deliveries.