President Xi Jinping has pledged "utmost sincerity and greatest efforts" for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but he made no promise to abandon the use of force.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Wednesday in Beijing at a gathering marking the 40th anniversary of issuing Message to Compatriots in Taiwan.
While noting that "Chinese don't fight Chinese," Xi said peaceful reunification is in the best interests of compatriots across the Strait as well as the Chinese nation.
"We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means," he added.
This does not target compatriots in Taiwan, but the interference of external forces and the very small number of "Taiwan independence" separatists and their activities, he said.
"Taiwan independence" goes against the trend of history and will lead to a dead end, he said.
"We are willing to create broad space for peaceful reunification, but will leave no room for any form of separatist activities," he added.
