Taiwan rejects reunification with China, affirms sovereignty

Taiwan’s Premier, Chuo Chung-tai, has firmly rejected the possibility of the island “returning” to the control of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), stressing that Taiwan is a “sovereign and independent state.”

His comments followed a phone call in which PRC President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump that Taiwan’s reunification with mainland China is an “inseparable part of the postwar international order.”

According to Sky News, Taiwan’s leadership has strongly dismissed Beijing’s position. “For the 23 million residents of our country, ‘return’ is not an option — that is absolutely clear,” Chuo stated. China has proposed a “one country, two systems” model for Taiwan, but it lacks support from any major political party on the island.

At the same time, tensions between China and Japan have been escalating. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently warned that any attack on Taiwan would trigger a military response, prompting a sharp reaction from Beijing, which accused Tokyo of “crossing a red line.”

Analysts suggest that Xi Jinping’s recent statements on Taiwan may be linked to these strained relations with Japan.

The United States maintains an official position of neutrality on Taiwan’s sovereignty but opposes the use of force to alter the island’s status. The Trump administration continues to follow a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding possible US military involvement in the event of conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Amid the growing tensions, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence reported the flight of a Chinese balloon over the strait. Taipei regards the incident as part of a campaign of pressure, while Beijing insists that the balloons are for meteorological observation.

Despite these disagreements, US-China relations have shown signs of improvement. Donald Trump confirmed a planned visit to Beijing in April, while Xi Jinping intends to visit Washington in 2026. Following their recent meeting in South Korea, the US has begun reducing tariffs, and Trump remarked, “Our relationship with China is extremely strong!”

By Tamilla Hasanova