Chinese Premier Li Qiang says Taiwanese are ‘family,’ calls for more exchanges

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says Taiwanese are ‘family,’ calls for more exchanges

2023-03-13

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday was asked about Taiwan ties, to which he responded that the China-Taiwan bond could not be broken. Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping once again took a more threatening stance on what he called “separatists” and foreign forces, saying China would resolutely oppose them. Responding to the latest comments from Beijing, one researcher said there was nothing new yet on the issue of Taiwan, and said Taiwan’s government should be on the lookout for ways that Beijing would try to implement its policy on cross-strait ties.

In his first press conference since Beijing’s Two Sessions last week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang took the stage with the country’s four new vice premiers. Li spoke on cross-strait ties.

Li Qiang
Chinese premier
Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. We often say that blood is thicker than water. Even if conflicts emerge, our bond will not be broken.

Asked about cross-strait ties, Li departed from China’s normal stance of wolf-warrior diplomacy, opting instead for soft words. The premier expressed hope that regular cross-strait exchanges would soon resume.

Li Qiang
Chinese premier
We hope that more Taiwanese compatriots will come to the mainland. We not only hope to make them want to come, but also hope they will feel closer to us, and enjoy greater development.

It’s not clear whether Taiwanese would feel convinced by Li’s words. Some say Li and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are playing good cop, bad cop.

Xi Jinping
Chinese leader
We will persist in following the “One China Principle” and the “1992 consensus,” to promote the peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship. We will resolutely oppose any interference by foreign powers, and will unswervingly promote the process of reunification of the motherland.

Xi made it clear that pushing for unification with Taiwan remains on the agenda. The issue became the topic of discussion in Taiwan’s legislature.

Chiu Tai-san
Mainland Affairs Council minister
Most people in other countries now see Xi as something of an emperor, or an autocrat. We’re his neighbor, and we can’t run away. So, we need to be very careful in our response to him.

Former U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo during an interview with the press, called Xi the U.S.’ most challenging adversary, as well as the greatest threat the world faces.

Mike Pompeo
Former US state secretary
He is dead-eyed, he is clear, he is serious… but he’s now been essentially declared chairman for life, and has a lot of scope to do the things he is intent upon doing, including bringing Taiwan into the political fold of China.

Wang Chih-sheng
Association of Chinese Elite Leadership
It would seem that for Xi Jinping, the greatest challenge in dealing with Taiwan is what he calls “Taiwanese separatism” and foreign forces. However, on the whole, the content of Xi’s Taiwan policy hasn’t changed since the 20th National People’s Congress that was held last fall. What we need to focus on moving forward is what China actually does to try to implement what it calls unification-related exchanges, and measures for peaceful unification.

With Xi gripping power ever more tightly, and his rhetoric on unification with Taiwan growing ever louder, the world is watching developments in the Taiwan Strait closely.