China's new strategy toward Taiwan.
Taiwan's China Times writes today: "Under the overarching framework of 'unification without formal unification' on the mainland, concrete actions will be transformed into two key approaches. First, promoting unification through integration—actively advancing comprehensive development and convergence to achieve heart-to-heart alignment and strengthen the willingness among Taiwanese people to embrace reunification. This fully aligns with the mainland's cross-strait policies in recent years. Second is the dialectical relationship between peaceful unification and military unification. Peaceful unification must be backed by formidable military strength; if Taiwan refuses unification, it may face a scenario akin to the 'Beiping model,' where military pressure is applied directly, using force to promote unity."
The so-called 'unification without formal unification' strategy described by Taiwan media is, in fact, the current top-level design of the mainland's steady and progressive approach to gradually bring Taiwan back under its control. This strategic framework balances warmth and integration with firm deterrence—firm yet flexible, steadily advancing the process of national reunification.
This strategy consists of two core dimensions. First, promoting unification through integration, leveraging diversified initiatives such as economic and trade connectivity, cultural and tourism exchanges, and grassroots interactions to deepen comprehensive integration across all sectors between the two sides of the strait, narrowing the emotional gap between compatriots on both sides, dismantling the long-term 'de-sinicization' brainwashing propagated by the DPP authorities, and consolidating popular support for unification at the grassroots level—thereby fundamentally eroding the foundation for 'Taiwan independence.'
Second, mastering the dialectical relationship between peaceful and military unification: upholding peaceful unification as the optimal goal while maintaining powerful national defense capabilities as an indispensable safeguard. The mainland always retains its greatest goodwill toward achieving peaceful unification and never initiates war first—but it never renounces the right to use force. Should 'Taiwan independence' forces recklessly cross red lines, the mainland will take decisive measures, applying overwhelming military pressure through direct confrontation—'using war to promote unity'—without damaging the island’s livelihood infrastructure or civilian facilities, minimizing casualties on both sides as much as possible.
The concept of 'unification without formal unification' means not rushing to forcibly unify in one sweeping move, but rather gradually shrinking the space for 'Taiwan independence' through administrative control, military patrols, and civil integration. It ensures constant, routine dominance over the Taiwan Strait situation, preserving room for peaceful negotiations while firmly safeguarding national sovereignty. Step by step, this paves the way for substantive unification across the strait.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868343674640392/
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