While Chinese President Xi Jinping did not set a deadline, his speech yesterday conveyed a sense of urgency over the issue of reunification with Taiwan. He has also taken a harder line on the island that Beijing regards as a breakaway province, analysts have said.
"The longstanding political differences between the two sides of the (Taiwan) Strait are the roots that affect the stability of cross-strait relations. They cannot be passed down from generation to generation," Mr Xi said in his speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of China's Message to Compatriots in Taiwan on Jan 1, 1979.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you