The Mainland Affairs Council held an international seminar on "Mainland China's Development Trends and Impacts under International Political and Economic Changes" today (20th), co-organized by the National Defense and Security Research Institute. In his closing speech in English, Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Qiu Chuizheng pointed out that the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will further establish Xi Jinping’s ideological status in party building. As Xi Jinping enters his fourth term at the 21st Party Congress in 2027, Beijing's mission to promote reunification will become more urgent, and its research and judgment will strengthen the more aggressive and provocative "ruling before reunification" strategy to gradually change and destroy the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
Qiu Chuizheng said that although the United States and China are currently trying to build a "constructive strategic and stable relationship," as the U.S. midterm elections and the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party of China approach, it will inevitably affect the direction of U.S.-China relations, and then affect the situation in the region and the Taiwan Strait. He pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party's politics under Xi Jinping's rule have seen "three extreme" trends: first, the development from "collective leadership" to "high centralization" or even "one-man rule", which increases the risk of decision-making errors; second, advocating "fanatic nationalism" and strengthening strategic coordination with Russia and North Korea in an attempt to dominate the Western Pacific; third, the legitimacy of the Xi regime's extension is based on the "national rejuvenation" mission of "unifying Taiwan and replacing the United States." He bluntly stated that the Xi regime has moved towards an unprecedented "new totalitarianism", posing a serious threat to regional and global security, prosperity and democratic governance.
Qiu Chuizheng pointed out that since the beginning of Xi Jinping’s third term in 2022, the CCP has carried out compound pressure on Taiwan such as military threats, diplomatic suppression, economic coercion, social penetration, legal warfare and cognitive warfare, which is the root cause of instability in the Taiwan Strait and regional situations. He judged that the CCP's future "unilateral expansion" may take four ways: First, it will use coast guard ships and scientific research ships to conduct "normalized law enforcement patrols" around Taiwan and outer islands to create the illusion of jurisdiction; second, it will promote "One China in the World", requiring southern countries to close our representative offices, move out of the capital, sanction officials from our friendly countries, and even obstruct President Lai Ching-te. Visiting Eswatini; third, using "transnational repression" to create a chilling effect, including sending people to Taiwan or hiring workers to carry out violent attacks, following surveillance, spraying paint, anonymous intimidation, and even monitoring President Lai's family in the United States; fourth, using "national treatment" and "urbanization measures" to attract Taiwanese to apply for Chinese identity documents, and including outlying islands into the "integrated development" framework.
Qiu Chuizheng emphasized that the CCP attempts to use "quantitative changes" to bring about "qualitative changes" and create "factual unity", which also makes it difficult for the international community to intervene and support Taiwan. In this regard, Qiu Chuizheng said that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and preventing China from changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait are Taiwan's national strategic goals. The government's cross-strait policy is neither humble nor overbearing, maintaining the status quo, insisting that Taiwan's future is determined by the 23 million people, and strengthening national defense, building economic security, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries through the "Four Pillars of Peace Action Plan."
He pointed out that the G7 countries, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and other countries are highly concerned about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Because Taiwan is located at the core of the first island chain, nearly 50% of the world's container ships must sail through the Taiwan Strait; about 90% of the world's most advanced process chips are produced in Taiwan; Taiwan also shares the value of democracy and freedom with allied countries.
Qiu Chuizheng said, "Taiwan cherishes peace, but will not give up freedom; Taiwan is willing to dialogue, but will not accept being dwarfed; Taiwan pursues stability, but will not sacrifice sovereignty and democratic values." He said that Taiwan is willing to engage in healthy and orderly exchanges with Beijing based on the principles of reciprocity and dignity, but firmly rejects the united front act of "packaging reunification with peace" and called on the Chinese Communist Party to face up to the objective facts of the existence of Taiwan, the Republic of China, and start a dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected government.
