Taiwan’s Premier on Tuesday emphatically declared that “return to China” is not an option for its 23 million citizens, intensifying the island nation’s rejection of Beijing’s sovereignty claims amid rising regional tensions.
Premier Cho Jung-tai made the strong remarks a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s claim over Taiwan to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone conversation.
“We must reiterate that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country,” Cho told reporters outside parliament. “For the 23 million people of our nation, ‘return’ is not an option. This is clarity.”
Beijing considers Taiwan its own territory, to be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s democratically elected government has consistently rejected this stance.
China has long proposed a “one country, two systems” model for Taiwan, similar to Hong Kong. However, this proposal lacks support from Taiwan’s major political parties and has been explicitly rejected by President Lai Ching-te.
In Taiwan’s governmental system, the Premier manages day-to-day operations, while the President typically oversees defense and foreign relations.
Relations between China and Taiwan have grown increasingly tense following recent diplomatic exchanges and military-related incidents. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a Chinese attack on Taiwan could provoke a military response from Japan.
China maintains that Taiwan remains its most crucial and sensitive diplomatic issue.
Taiwan has repeatedly accused China of distorting the legacy of World War II to bolster its territorial claims. China has asserted sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of WWII in 1945, when Taiwan, then a Japanese colony, reverted to Republic of China rule. The People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 after communist forces drove the ROC government to Taiwan.
Taiwan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei stated that China “repeatedly attempts to intimidate and pressure neighboring countries like Taiwan and Japan in the region with its authoritarian expansionist nature.” He also cited U.S. comments from September regarding China’s efforts to use WWII-era documents to isolate Taiwan.
The day before the Premier’s statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense detected a balloon originating from China crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Taiwan expressed displeasure over these balloon incursions, which often occur in winter and are viewed as part of China’s pattern of harassment.
China has previously dismissed Taiwan’s complaints about the balloons, claiming they serve meteorological purposes and should not be politically exaggerated.