Editor's note: Zhong Taiwen is a current affairs commentator. The article was first published in Chinese by Xinhua News Agency on October 28, and it reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving China's reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people and an essential part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Reunification is not a matter of choice; it is an inevitability. In the course of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are bound to resolve the Taiwan question as early as possible, achieving China's reunification and sharing the glory of national rejuvenation.

National reunification reflects the will of the people

The Chinese nation, having written a glorious history and created a splendid civilization, has come to a deep understanding of the historical law that "unity brings strength while division leads to chaos." It has also developed a shared value orientation toward the pursuit of "grand unity."

Since the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, Taiwan has been part of a unified multiethnic state for most of its history. Even during the 50 years of Japan's illegal occupation, the armed and unarmed resistance of Taiwan-born compatriots against Japanese colonial rule never ceased. Ultimately, together with their Chinese mainland compatriots, they achieved the great victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan was restored to the motherland.

This fully demonstrates that the people of Taiwan have a proud patriotic tradition. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the same Chinese nation. Completing national reunification is a long-cherished aspiration shared by all Chinese people.

Cross-Straits relations have made tremendous progress over the past seven decades, especially since the state of isolation between the two sides was broken. Exchanges and cooperation across the Straits have become increasingly extensive and people-to-people interactions have grown ever closer, bringing tangible benefits to compatriots on both sides. This fully proves that peace across the Straits benefits both sides and cooperation leads to a win-win outcome.

The development of Cross-Straits relations, particularly the wide-ranging policies and measures from the mainland that benefit Taiwan compatriots, accords with the heartfelt wishes of the vast majority of the residents in Taiwan and has shaped mainstream public opinion on the island that calls for peace, development, exchange and cooperation.

In the great process of achieving China's reunification, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree or mantises attempting to stop a chariot. They have vigorously promoted "de-Sinicization" and "incremental independence," deceiving the residents of Taiwan, poisoning the younger generation and creating a "separatist consciousness" in Taiwan society. This has gravely corrupted the spiritual well-being of Taiwan compatriots.

Disregarding the fate of the residents of Taiwan and the future of Taiwan's development, the "Taiwan independence" forces have gone so far as to drag the whole society into serving their own selfish political interests, bringing grave disasters to Taiwan and jeopardizing its future. They stubbornly cling to their separatist path and betray the national cause. They willingly serve as pawns of the U.S. and other Western countries in their attempt to "use Taiwan to contain China" and cooperate with those forces in suppressing and constraining the mainland's development, even selling out the island's interests to external forces. This harms the shared interests of compatriots on both sides of the Straits and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. Ultimately, they will be judged and punished by history and by the people.

National reunification is a just cause

National reunification is a strong expression of the collective will of all Chinese people. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits; it can and must be decided jointly by the Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots. This stems not only from deep national sentiment but also from the state's sovereign right.

Differences in systems cannot change the objective fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one country and one nation. External interference cannot stop the historic trend toward national reunification. Reunification serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and is the greatest guarantee for the well-being of Taiwan compatriots.

Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-World War II international order; supporting China's reunification is an inherent requirement for upholding the authority of international law and maintaining the postwar international order.

Eighty years ago, the Chinese people fought bravely and won the great victory of the War of Resistance. Now, China remains committed to safeguarding the postwar international order and will never allow historical tragedies to repeat.

Safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international law and a basic right of every sovereign state. The one-China principle is a widely recognized consensus in the international community and a fundamental norm governing international relations. The global community broadly understands and supports the Chinese people's just cause of completing national reunification.

From the perspective of international justice, the Chinese people's efforts to resolve the Taiwan question uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter and align with the global trend toward progress and justice.

China's reunification is inevitable, which is determined by the postwar international order and supported by the overwhelming majority of countries that stand on the side of human civilization and progress. No matter how external forces attempt to create disturbances, the historical trend of China's eventual and inevitable reunification cannot be stopped.

National reunification is an unstoppable trend

The key factor determining the direction of Cross-Straits relations is the development and progress of the mainland. After decades of development, the mainland's economic strength, technological capabilities, military power, cultural and soft power and overall national strength have significantly increased, leading to a marked rise in its international status and influence, bringing it ever closer to the center of the world stage.

The advantages and conditions of the mainland's development continue to transform into the ability and motivation to promote reunification, which will foster ongoing social exchanges and integration across the Straits, deepen the interests and emotional connections of compatriots on both sides and enhance a shared national, cultural and state identity, guiding Cross-Straits relations toward reunification.

The strength of the mainland determines that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end and that reunification is irresistible; it also determines that external interference will not succeed and that "relying on external forces to seek independence" will fail. There is only one path for Taiwan, and that is to move toward complete national reunification.

The Chinese nation will certainly reunify as it grows stronger, and a reunified nation will be even stronger. From the perspective of comparing strength across the Taiwan Straits and the evolving international landscape, it will increasingly favor the just cause supporting reunification.

If both sides of the Straits sit down to talk and come up with a reasonable "two systems" proposal for Taiwan, not only will Taiwan's existing social system be fully respected and achieve a high degree of autonomy, but Taiwan compatriots will also be able to participate more broadly in national governance and international affairs.

Together with their mainland compatriots, they will take charge of their own destiny, realizing their ideals of governing the country and ensuring peace. As Sun Yat-sen once said: "Unification is the hope of all Chinese nationals. If China can be unified, all Chinese will enjoy a happy life; if it can't, all will suffer."

No mountain can stop the surging flow of the mighty river. The reunification of both sides of the Taiwan Straits is not only a historical conclusion and a legal inevitability, but also the will of the people and the essence of righteousness. It is an unstoppable and irreversible tide of the times. The historical wheel of national reunification and national rejuvenation is rolling forward, and the complete reunification of China must be achieved and certainly can be achieved!

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