China's Taiwan White Paper Criticizes Taiwan Independence 36 Times... "No Renunciation of Use of Force"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] China strongly criticized Taiwan's will for independence and warned that it would not hesitate to use "military force" through the Taiwan White Paper published for the first time in 22 years.

According to local media such as the Chinese state-run Global Times and Huanqiu Shibao on the 11th, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office announced the Taiwan White Paper titled "The Taiwan Issue and China's Reunification in the New Era" the day before. This is the third Taiwan White Paper published by China following those in 1993 and 2000, and the first since President Xi Jinping took office.

◆ 'Taiwan Independence' mentioned 36 times... "No renunciation of military force" = The white paper was released amid large-scale Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Strait following the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month. The Global Times, citing Chinese experts, analyzed that this white paper contains a strategic plan for Taiwan's reunification and is a strong measure that also mentions the possible use of military force.

In particular, China raised the level of criticism by mentioning "Taiwan independence" 36 times in this white paper. Huanqiu Shibao explained that "compared to five mentions each in 1993 and 2000, the intensity has increased."

The white paper further stated, "We will strive for peaceful reunification with our best efforts," but also said, "We do not promise to renounce the use of military force and will keep the option of taking all necessary measures." It emphasized, "This is not aimed at Taiwan compatriots but at external interference, a very small number of Taiwan independence elements, and their separatist activities, and non-peaceful means will be the last resort in unavoidable situations."

Earlier, in a speech at the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Taiwan Compatriots" in January 2019, President Xi stated, "We will do our best for peaceful reunification but do not promise to renounce the use of military force and will keep the option of taking all necessary measures." By repeating this, it appears he emphasized the possibility of attempting reunification by force if necessary.

The white paper criticized the independence-oriented ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan and the United States, saying, "Seeking independence with foreign involvement is a dead end, and trying to suppress China through Taiwan will surely fail," and added, "No one and no force can stop the historical wheel of national reunification from rolling."

Chinese experts evaluated the Taiwan White Paper as a de facto "final ultimatum" and warning. Wang Yingjin, director of the Cross-Strait Relations Research Center at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times, "The more separatists in Taiwan shout for independence, the more we will shout for reunification, and if external forces play the Taiwan card more aggressively, the momentum for promoting reunification will grow stronger."

◆ U.S. reconsiders lifting tariffs on China = As political and military tensions between the U.S. and China rise, the U.S. is reportedly reconsidering whether to lift tariffs on China.

According to foreign media including CNBC on the 10th (local time), citing sources, "Due to China's military response surrounding Taiwan, Biden administration officials are reassessing whether to lift some tariffs on China or impose other tariffs." Sources explained that President Joe Biden has not yet made a decision on this issue.

The current focus regarding tariffs is on the "exclusion list." In 2018, the Trump administration abruptly imposed tariffs on 2,200 Chinese products, and in 2020, the Biden administration applied tariff exemptions to all but 549 items under the "Phase One Trade Agreement."

From consumer electronics and retailers to automotive and aerospace industries, various U.S. sectors have demanded the government remove tariffs of up to 25%. Some senior administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, argued that tariffs on "non-strategic" consumer goods unnecessarily increase costs for consumers and businesses, and removing them could help alleviate rampant inflation.

Communications indicated that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is currently conducting a four-year legal review of the tariffs imposed by Trump, which may take several more months to complete.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.