Following significant military exercises close to the shore in recent weeks, Beijing claims that it is prepared to exert all possible effort to pursue a peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan.
Although China claims Taiwan as its own territory, the democratically elected government of the island rejects the claims and asserts that the destiny of the 23 million residents of the island is up to them.
Following Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, Beijing last month started sea and air manoeuvres that included firing missiles over the island as part of its increased assertiveness toward Taiwan in recent years. Pelosi became the highest-profile US official to visit the island in 25 years by defying a series of severe warnings, inspiring other US and European leaders to do the same.
Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, stated that China was willing to make the greatest efforts to achieve peaceful “reunification,” but that it was also “unwavering” in its commitment to safeguarding its territory at a news conference reviewing the previous ten years of cross-strait relations.
Ma declared, “The homeland must be reunified and will undoubtedly be reunified.”

Since Tsai Ing-wen was initially elected president in 2016, Beijing has stepped up its claim to Taiwan, branding her a “separatist” and refusing to communicate with her. It has made diplomatic efforts to isolate Taipei and hasn’t completely ruled out using force to annex the island.