context: The Taiwan issue remains a dominant factor that affects US–PRC relations. Territorial and civil disputes remain consistent across the Taiwan Strait. To ease PRC–Taiwan tension, Ma Ying-jeou 马英九 former Chinese Nationalist Party chair arranged a meeting with Xi Jinping 习近平 CPC general secretary, facilitating cross-strait exchange. The following is an analysis of the meeting from the PRC’s perspective.
Xi Jinping’s 习近平 speech during his meeting with Ma Ying-jeou 马英九 former Chinese Nationalist Party chair, marks the third time the CPC reasserted its Taiwan policy in major events since the 18th Party Congress, contends Li Yihu 李义虎 Peking University Taiwan Research Centre director. The other two times being
- Xi’s speech in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the ‘message to compatriots in Taiwan’
- the 20th Party Congress report
Major highlights of Xi’s speech include
- employing the ‘Zhonghua nation’ frame to describe PRC–Taiwan relations
- expands beyond territorial recognition
- targets not just pro-PRC voters in Taiwan, but also DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) and TPP (Taiwan People’s Party) supporters
- clarifying that the CPC is considering the benefits of the nation as a whole
- fostering new discourse to conceptualise Taiwan and the PRC as a united family
- placing heavy emphasis on Zhonghua (Chinese) culture
- Zhonghua cultural heritage is a spiritual gene possessed by both Taiwan and PRC compatriots
- a condition that can be leveraged for reunification
- tied to Chinese national rejuvenation
- acting as a medium that fosters cross-strait dialogue
- less disruption when compared to political and economic exchanges
- creating a psychological base for a cross-strait community of shared future
- Zhonghua cultural heritage is a spiritual gene possessed by both Taiwan and PRC compatriots
Xi also proposed ‘four insistences’ to illuminate the PRC’s view
- insist on safeguarding the united homeland of the Zhonghua nation
- demand
- respect to the 1992 consensus
- oppose Taiwan independence
- counter influence from external forces
- retain strategic flexibility while underlining a clear stance
- demand
- insist on sharing prosperity
- the mainland could share its developmental fruits with Taiwan
- provide privileges and interests to Taiwan citizens
- insist on fostering a sense of Zhonghua national community
- focus on the ‘family’ framing of cross-strait relations
- foster cross-strait integration and cultural fusion
- insist on Chinese national rejuvenation
- centre on advancing societal progress and welfare
- value ideological work targeting the Taiwan youth