China Alters Phrasing of Taiwan Stance
The Facts
In a government report delivered Tuesday by Premier Li Qiang, China revised its stance on Taiwan — calling for a "reunification" rather than "peaceful reunification" — and proposed to boost defense spending by 7.2% — as much as it did last year.
This follows Taiwan's recent election, which gave the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) its third consecutive term. Beijing and Taipei have had no official communication since DPP's 2016 victory.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
Of course the Western media is translating the dropping of the word "peaceful" as some sort of threat to Taiwan. But China is still committed to a peaceful reunification and this change in phrasing reflects the urgency with which China views the matter, not a change in policy.
Anti-China narrative
There's nothing innocuous about a rapidly militarizing China changing the tone of its official voice when it comes to Taiwan. Today's context, including Beijing's recent saber-rattling, makes this far more ominous than Beijing would have one believe. This change of language is deeply concerning.
