bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Kristin Huang

Any effort by Taiwan to resist the “historic trend” towards unification is doomed to failure since Beijing is in a much stronger position to realise its goals, the head of a semi-official Chinese body to handle relations with the island said on Wednesday.
Zhang Zhijun, the president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, told reporters at the annual legislative session in Beijing that reunification was inevitable as China becomes stronger.
“The Taiwan issue happened because of the degeneration of the Chinese nation,” Zhang, the former director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said.
“The problem will be resolved as our country rejuvenates.”
“We now have greater influence across the Taiwan Strait and we are more capable than ever of leading cross-strait relations in the right direction … and achieving the peaceful reunification of China,” he added.




Zhang also pointed out that the mainland’s economy is now the second biggest in the world – and is much bigger than Taiwan’s.
He dismissed the argument that the “one country, two systems” model put forward by Beijing for reunification has failed in Hong Kong, claiming that it was just a trick by pro-independence forces in Taiwan to obstruct the development of cross-strait ties.
“Separatist forces in Taiwan are deeply worried as cross-strait relations grow by the day,” he said adding that these forces were criticising Hong Kong to spread fear in Taiwan.
He insisted that “one country, two systems” had succeeded in Hong Kong, which had experienced robust growth in recent years.

He also argued that it would have a bright future under the Greater Bay Area scheme, which aims to turn Hong Kong and Macau and nine neighbouring Guangdong cities into a world-class financial and technology hub.
Nevertheless, Zhang said Beijing was willing to talk about a Taiwanese model of “one country, two systems”.
Send top delegation to Taipei, American senators urge Donald Trump
Beijing regards Taiwan as breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary, and views any pro-independence activity as contrary to China’s core national interests.
Cross-strait ties nosedived in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected president.




Tsai has refused to acknowledge the “one-China” principle – which holds that the mainland and Taiwan are part of one sovereign nation without defining what that means in practice – as the basis for reunification negotiations.
In a speech in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that unification with Taiwan was a key part of China’s “national rejuvenation” and the political divide must be resolved.
Taiwan looks to bank summit to loosen Beijing’s squeeze
On Monday, Taiwan’s national security agency said the island must stand up to Beijing’s increasing pressure.
The agency said Taipei should provide more incentives for Taiwanese businesses who have moved to the mainland to come home, do more to counter Beijing’s disinformation campaigns and strengthen its defences.


Trust in Hong Kong government slips away as Carrie Lam and police embrace China tactics

In politically polarised Hong Kong, hurtful response to NPC delegate’s death highlights the decline of civility

New law a major step in protecting interests of foreign investors

China’s new foreign investment law opens the door wider to overseas firms. But they’ll have to step up their game to make the most of it

Two Sessions 2019 (Lianghui)

Taiwan can’t resist historic trend towards unification, says head of Chinese cross-strait group

Zhang Zhijun, China's former Minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and currently the President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, is pictured during a group interview by Hong Kong and Taiwan media outlets at the press center of the 2nd Session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Wed. Mar. 13, 2019. 13MAR19. SCMP/Simon Song

Soldiers hoist Taiwan's national flag at the Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday. Beiijng regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland. Photo: EPA-EFE

Beijing ‘won’t allow Taiwan reunification to be postponed indefinitely’

NPC delegate Cai Peihui suggested Beijing could allow Taiwan greater autonomy if it agrees to the “one country, two systems” model. Photo: EPA-EFE

Cai Peihui, a PLA veteran who fought in a war with Vietnam in 1979, now is a businessman and deputy for Taiwan in the National People’s Congress. 09MAR19 SCMP / Minnie Chan

Taiwan looks to Central American bank summit as way to loosen Beijing’s squeeze on island

The Taiwan national flag is seen outside The Grand Hotel, which serves lots of mainland tourists in Taipei City, Taiwan. 09OCT11

Su Jain-rong Finance Minister of Taiwan Photo: Wikimedia

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, looks on during a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. China must usher in major democratic reforms if it hopes to overcome decades of mutual animosity with Taiwan, Tsai said. Photographer: Ashley Pon/Bloomberg

Beijing will increase pressure on Taiwan if it rejects one-China principle, warns government adviser

China has stepped up its naval exercises around Taiwan and has been warned of more operations to come. Photo: chinamil.com.cn

Li Yihu, a National People's Congress (NPC) delegate, and Head of Peking University's Institute of Taiwan Studies is pictured during a group interview in Beijing on Mar. 10, 2017. 10MAR17 SCMP/Simon Song

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen announces her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after local elections in Taipei, Taiwan November 24, 2018. REUTERS/Ann Wang

News

China

Diplomacy

Zhang Zhijun, head of the semi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, says mainland’s growing strength means it will achieve its goal


Zhang Zhijun, head of the semi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, says mainland’s growing strength means it will inevitably achieve its goal.
