Xi Jinping Links Taiwan Policy to Unity and Reunification

What changed

Xi Jinping used a Beijing ceremony marking Sun Yat-sen’s 160th birth anniversary to frame Taiwan policy around “unity,” peaceful cross-Strait development and national reunification.

He also said Taiwan’s realities, interests and feelings should be considered, while warning that no space would be left for any form of Taiwan independence separatism.

Why it matters

The speech pairs an open door with a locked boundary. Mainland scholars described the language as goodwill toward Taiwanese society, including room to discuss interests and concerns, but also as a warning to independence advocates and outside forces that Beijing’s reunification goal will not be set aside.

That combination gives the remarks their practical weight. The message is not simply that dialogue is available; it is that dialogue must take place within Beijing’s definition of national unity. The speech linked reunification to China’s national rejuvenation and to Sun Yat-sen’s legacy, turning Taiwan policy into part of a larger historical mission.

The remarks also build on mainland measures announced in April 2026 to promote cross-Strait exchange and cooperation. But the speech did not set out a new negotiation mechanism or timetable, and the response from Taiwan’s government, political parties and public remains unknown.