Mainland Chinese research institutes are finalizing detailed post-reunification governance proposals for Taiwan, following a 2019 directive by President Xi Jinping, the South China Morning Post reported. Rather than presenting a single fixed model, the draft scenarios offer varying levels of autonomy depending on the method of reunification, with peaceful integration granting the broadest self-governance under Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework.
Research Institutes Draft Post-Reunification Scenarios for Taiwan
Seven years after President Xi Jinping first called for detailed governance proposals regarding Taiwan, mainland academic institutions are completing their initial studies. Scholars involved in the drafting process state that the scope of Taiwan’s future autonomy is directly tied to the manner in which unification occurs. Peaceful integration would preserve the largest degree of self-administration, according to researchers cited by the South China Morning Post.
Chen Xiancai, a Taiwan affairs professor at Xiamen University, noted that earlier engagement in talks by Taipei would yield greater bargaining power and shape the terms of governance. Concurrently, public opinion in Taiwan remains sharply opposed to the framework. An August survey commissioned by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council and conducted by National Chengchi University’s Election Study Centre found that 81.2% of respondents opposed the “one country, two systems” model, while 68.9% supported maintaining the status quo.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Releases Historical and Legal Video
Ahead of diplomatic meetings in Washington, China’s Foreign Ministry released a bilingual video titled “The Way Home,” outlining the historical and legal basis for Taiwan’s status as part of China, the Global Times reported. The four-minute video references the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, asserting that Japan’s unconditional surrender restored Taiwan to Chinese sovereignty following World War II.
The video cites United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 to emphasize that international recognition rests on a single China framework. Zheng Jian, a professor at Xiamen University, told the Global Times that the release serves as a stern warning against external interference and assertions of an “undetermined status” for Taiwan by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities.
China urges US to halt Taiwan arms sales
Ahead of a leadership summit in Washington, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng stated that Taiwan and human rights remain uncompromised red lines for Beijing, the People’s Daily reported. Writing in the People’s Daily, Xie urged the United States to halt weapons sales and cease actions that constrain China’s development.
The United States remains Taiwan’s primary international arms supplier. A senior Taiwan security official indicated that delayed US arms transfers risk slowing Taipei's military buildup, giving Beijing more strategic advantage across the region, according to the article. Meanwhile, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian accused Taipei of deliberately escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Mainland scholars propose autonomy terms for Taiwan
What specific autonomy terms are mainland scholars proposing for Taiwan?
Scholars at mainland research institutes suggest that peaceful reunification would offer Taiwan a larger scope of autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework than what was applied to Hong Kong and Macao, though exact constitutional limits and joint amendment procedures remain under academic debate.
How does public opinion in Taiwan view the proposed governance models?
An August survey commissioned by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council revealed that 81.2% of respondents opposed the “one country, two systems” proposition, with 68.9% supporting the maintenance of the status quo and rejecting unification.
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