Beijing’s top political adviser picked to lead Taiwan reunification group, stresses fight against ‘separatist forces’

Wang Huning, mainland China’s leading official on Taiwan issues, urges organisation to oppose ‘external interference’ in cross-strait affairs

The council consists of mainly non-Communist Party members and is aimed at uniting overseas Chinese, including those in Hong Kong and Macau

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Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, speaks at a meeting of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:58pm, 12 Sep 2023Updated: 8:13pm, 12 Sep 2023

Wang Huning, the head of Beijing’s top political advisory body, called for efforts to fight Taiwan separatists and external intervention as he was selected to head an organisation tasked with promoting peaceful reunification.

Wang, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee – the Communist Party’s top decision-making body – made the remarks on Monday at the plenary meeting of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPR).

The organisation, set up in 1988 by then leader Deng Xiaoping, consists mainly of non-Communist Party members with the mission of uniting overseas Chinese, including those in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Wang, Beijing’s top official on Taiwan affairs, urged the council to “take up the responsibility and mission of fighting against separatist forces and external interference” and to “strengthen confidence and determination in opposing independence and promoting reunification”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.

He called for greater efforts to promote exchanges and interactions among people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to “strengthen the foundation of public opinion”.

He also asked the international community to support creating a “favourable external environment”.

Cross-strait relations have been strained since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. In recent years, Beijing has increased its pressure on Taiwan, with the PLA ramping up military intimidation of the self-ruled island.

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