“Unification of the motherland is a must, and it is inevitable,” President Xi said today MARK SCHIEFELBEIN//REUTERSPresident Xi warned Taiwan today that he wants to bring it under Beijing’s control by 2050, if necessary by force. In an unyielding speech, Mr Xi abandoned decades of policy in which China asserted its right to the breakaway island while being content for the thorny relationship to be solved by future generations. He said unification was “inevitable”, and should be completed alongside China’s full revival as a power, which according to his timetable will come about within 30 years. Mr Xi said Taipei could be accommodated in the same way as Hong Kong, into a “one country, two systems” relationship. Although Beijing prefers a peaceful method, Mr Xi reiterated that the use of force remained an option as he delivered a speech today commemorating…

Source: The Times January 02, 2019 09:21 UTC