Will 'resolutely combat' division of Taiwan independence, 'contain' external interference, says China

China is determined to “contain” foreign interference regarding Taiwan and will “resolutely combat” any attempts at the island’s formal independence this year, which is the sensitive 75th anniversary of the founding of communist China, Reuters quoted state media as reporting on Friday.

China considers Taiwan its own territory despite Taipei’s objections and has increased political and military pressure to assert its claims.

Last month, Taiwan elected Vice President Lai Ching-te as its next president, whom Beijing has labeled a dangerous separatist. Lai, set to assume office in May, has repeatedly extended offers for dialogue with China, all of which have been rejected.

According to Reuters, citing China’s Xinhua news agency, Wang Huning, the fourth-ranked leader in the ruling Communist Party, concluded a two-day meeting on Taiwan-related affairs for the year.

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Wang said that with this year being the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China it was “necessary to do a good job on Taiwan-related work with a high sense of responsibility and mission,” Reuters quoted Wang as saying to Xinhua.

China “must resolutely combat the division of Taiwan independence, contain interference from external forces, firmly support the patriotic and reunification forces on the island, unite Taiwan compatriots, and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, it cited Wang as saying.

In China’s terminology, interference from external forces generally covers areas such as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and visits to Taipei by foreign officials and lawmakers.

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According to the report, citing Xinhua, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also head of the party’s foreign affairs commission and director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office from 2008 to 2013, attended the meeting.

Taiwan’s government says China has no right to claim to represent the island’s people on the international stage and that as the People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan its sovereignty claims are void.

Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic in Beijing on Oct. 1, 1949, after a bloody civil war.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan at the end of 1949, and that remains the island’s formal name.

Neither government recognises the other.

With inputs from agencies