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> China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable, President Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s address on Sunday, striking a stronger tone than he did last ye

> China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable, President Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s address on Sunday, striking a stronger tone than he did last year with less than two weeks to go before the Chinese-claimed island elects a new leader. "striking a stronger tone" is simply factually incorrect. He said reunification is a "historical inevitablity" (历史必然), which is word-for-word the exact same language he's been using since as far back as 2014. [1] [1] http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0927/c70731-25745785.html http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0927/c70731-25745785.ht...

brucethemoose2 3y ago
I wish there was a flag for "misleading title" on HN. Not OPs fault, of course, but so many big name outlets do this.
seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Ya, this is more of the same bluster. Chinese politicians talk a lot, but you can only judge them by their actual actions. I’m not even sure why these speeches are reported on anymore, they don’t provide any new information, they just go through a bunch of ceremony.
- toyg 3y ago
  "Their actions" are an increased amount of military resources in the straits, including bases. They spout rhetoric like any other government, but they do follow through with actions.
  - seanmcdirmid 3y ago
    I mean, yes, they are taking over the SCS, but that isn’t much concern for Taiwan. Actually, this works out better for them, since one of the reasons China wants Taiwan is that they don’t have open access to the ocean (control of the SCS would be an alt to that goal). American bases in the ryukyus ensure that China isn’t going to do much action on Taiwan at least in the next few years.
mytailorisrich 3y ago
It's been the official line forever. Not only that but also using quotes for every occurence of the word 'reunification' is not really subtle...
- wkat4242 3y ago
  I agree with that use of quotes. It's but a euphemism for what will actually happen.
  - mytailorisrich 3y ago
    I don't think quotes are used for German reunification or Korean reunification. So why are they for Chinese reunification?
    - wkat4242 3y ago
      Already explained that here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38838337 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38838337 Not to mention that in the case of Germany and Korea both parts are similar in size. And the conditions for the worst off-people improves (or improved in the case of Germany) considerably. In the case of Taiwan their population's freedom will be reduced and for the people in China there will be no change. It's not reunification, it's forced subordination. And reunification isn't always a good thing. For example look at Ukraine, they have no interest in 'reunification' with Russia. Another big example where those quotes would be justified. Because they'd be transformed from a proud independent country to a crumple zone for Russia. Or Yugoslavia. Bringing all those different populations together in one country again is a guarantee for another war.
      - mytailorisrich 3y ago
        Not at all... this is all irrelevant or unrelated. Nobody argued that German reunification was indeed a reunification. With China there is a narrative that tries to convey that thie situation is different and that this is not really a reunification... which is obviously not the reality.
Nasrudith 3y ago
"Historical inevitability" is also hilarious when used by a representative of a formerly communist nation. Given how often they claimed communism was the inevitable end state.

brucethemoose2 3y ago

I wish there was a flag for "misleading title" on HN. Not OPs fault, of course, but so many big name outlets do this.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

Ya, this is more of the same bluster. Chinese politicians talk a lot, but you can only judge them by their actual actions. I’m not even sure why these speeches are reported on anymore, they don’t provide any new information, they just go through a bunch of ceremony.

toyg 3y ago
"Their actions" are an increased amount of military resources in the straits, including bases. They spout rhetoric like any other government, but they do follow through with actions.
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago
  I mean, yes, they are taking over the SCS, but that isn’t much concern for Taiwan. Actually, this works out better for them, since one of the reasons China wants Taiwan is that they don’t have open access to the ocean (control of the SCS would be an alt to that goal). American bases in the ryukyus ensure that China isn’t going to do much action on Taiwan at least in the next few years.

mytailorisrich 3y ago

It's been the official line forever. Not only that but also using quotes for every occurence of the word 'reunification' is not really subtle...

wkat4242 3y ago
I agree with that use of quotes. It's but a euphemism for what will actually happen.
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  I don't think quotes are used for German reunification or Korean reunification. So why are they for Chinese reunification?
  - wkat4242 3y ago
    Already explained that here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38838337 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38838337 Not to mention that in the case of Germany and Korea both parts are similar in size. And the conditions for the worst off-people improves (or improved in the case of Germany) considerably. In the case of Taiwan their population's freedom will be reduced and for the people in China there will be no change. It's not reunification, it's forced subordination. And reunification isn't always a good thing. For example look at Ukraine, they have no interest in 'reunification' with Russia. Another big example where those quotes would be justified. Because they'd be transformed from a proud independent country to a crumple zone for Russia. Or Yugoslavia. Bringing all those different populations together in one country again is a guarantee for another war.
    - mytailorisrich 3y ago
      Not at all... this is all irrelevant or unrelated. Nobody argued that German reunification was indeed a reunification. With China there is a narrative that tries to convey that thie situation is different and that this is not really a reunification... which is obviously not the reality.

Nasrudith 3y ago

"Historical inevitability" is also hilarious when used by a representative of a formerly communist nation. Given how often they claimed communism was the inevitable end state.