Xi Jinping says China will oppose outside interference in Taiwan issue

China will firmly oppose outside powers' interference in the Taiwan issue and separatist activities aimed at the island's independence. Chinese President Xi Jinping said this at the closing ceremony of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (parliament) on March 13.

"There is a need to firmly adhere to the principle of 'one China' and respect the 1992 consensus, actively promote the peaceful development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely oppose interference by outside forces and separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence'," he said.

Xi Jinping said China intends to steadily push forward the process of reunification with Taiwan. "The process of reunification of the homeland must be steadily promoted," he said.

China's largest island, Taiwan, has been governed by its own administration since 1949. Official Beijing considers the island as one of China's provinces.

Tensions over Taiwan escalated after the visit of then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei in August 2022. The day after the visit, the Chinese People's Liberation Army began large-scale manoeuvres with missile firing in six areas of the island's waters.