China to fight resolutely 'Taiwan independence' in 2023

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Mar 2023 10:30

A Chinese government report highlights that the past five years for China have been "truly momentous and remarkable."

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang talk at the opening session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2023. (Reuters)

China will firmly fight against "Taiwan’s independence" and promote reunification of the island with the homeland, a government report stressed at the opening of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress -- China's supreme legislative body -- on Sunday.

The report pointed out that the Chinese government will "steadfastly implement the [Chinese Commuist] Party's overall strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue in the new era, firmly uphold the one-China principle and abide by the 1992 consensus," as per Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.

It also underlined that the government will "fight resolutely against so-called Taiwan independence, promote the peaceful development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and advance the peaceful reunification of the homeland."

On Friday, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Tan Kefei said that "China demands that the United States stop selling arms to Taiwan and military contacts with Taipei, stop interfering in the Taiwan issue and aggravate tensions in the Taiwan Strait."

Elsewhere, in another context, the report indicated that the Chinese government has set its Gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate target for 2023 at about five percent. Last year, the target was 2.8%.

The report considered that China should "continue the transition to green development and intensify pollution prevention and control, and move faster to develop a new energy system."

It added that China should also "improve policies for green development, advance energy conservation and carbon reduction in key areas, and continue working to keep its skies blue, waters clear and lands clean."

Elsewhere, the government report underlined that the past five years for China have been "truly momentous and remarkable as the country has met numerous tests and made major achievements in economic and social development."