China vowed on Tuesday to “resolutely” oppose Taiwan’s idea of independence, with Premier Li Qiang presenting his first government report to the country’s second session of the national legislature.
Li stressed to nearly 3,000 deputies of the National People’s Congress (NPC) that Beijing would “resolutely” oppose “Taiwan independence” and “external interference,” at the same time upholding international fairness and justice.
Stability is the basis for everything we do.
The Premier stated that China’s armed forces would “strengthen all-around military training and combat readiness, make well-coordinated efforts to improve military preparedness … so as to firmly safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
“We will implement our [Communist] Party’s overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question, stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.”
Li also declared that Beijing would “promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations” and would be “firm in advancing the cause of China’s reunification.” He added that China’s military budget would increase by 7.2 per cent to 1.66 trillion yuan ($231.4 billion).
President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders also attended the opening of the NPC meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. According to Li, the government, with a focus on high-quality development, would launch the AI Plus initiative, as well as boost revolutionary and advanced technological research.
He affirmed that the government would provide “national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises” as part of the work on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Over 2,000 members of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its second meeting at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. The NPC announced that Li would not be speaking to the press after the conclusion of the meeting on 11 March.
