Road map to reunification now clear

Editor's note: China must be and will be reunited, said President Xi Jinping at a gathering in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan. Xiakedao, a WeChat account affiliated to the People's Daily, comments on Thursday:

Xi's remarks at the meeting were informative. He stressed "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems", and did not mention the 1992 Consensus as often as before.

Which demonstrates Beijing's confidence that it has taken the initiative in cross-Straits relations, and its focus has shifted from the struggle against secessionists to striving for reunification.

If the 1992 Consensus－both sides agree they belong to one China－reflects the bottom line, the "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" represent a practical road map for the future.

Taiwan is a core national interest, and its reunification with the motherland must not be postponed indefinitely, and political divergences between the two sides, a root cause affecting cross-Straits ties, should not be passed down from generation to generation.

Beijing is expected to customize its "two systems" plan to suit Taiwan's practical conditions so as to win more recognition from the people on the island.

Also, Xi has made it clear that Chinese people do not fight with Chinese people, and Beijing's reserving of its rights of using forces targets the secessionists and their activities, as well as those external powers trying to hinder China's peaceful reunification, but not the compatriots in Taiwan.

Despite her predictable response, Tsai Ing-wen, the island's leader, should be clearheaded that Beijing's resolve for national reunification is independent of her will and any external power's intervention, and her bravado will only spur Beijing's resolve to solve the Taiwan question as planned.

The national reunification is a historical trend that no power can hinder. The way ahead might not be smooth. That's why the Chinese mainland and all pro-reunification parties must bear a big picture in mind, and demonstrate enough strategic patience and stamina while dealing with the Taiwan question.