Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s remarks on Taiwan during his 90-minute press conference at the Two Sessions on Friday ignited a surge of discussion on Chinese social media, with nationalist sentiments rapidly gaining traction.
Reiterating Beijing’s long-standing position, Wang declared unequivocally that “Taiwan has never been a country. It was not in the past, and it will never be in the future.”
Shortly after his remarks, hashtags such as #TaiwanProvinceOfChina and #TaiwanWasNeverACountry flooded Weibo, China’s popular microblogging platform. Social media users quickly rallied behind Wang’s statement, calling for the swift reunification of Taiwan with the mainland. Many emphasized that the foreign minister’s choice of words—referring to Taiwan as a “province” rather than a “special administrative zone”—was a deliberate and pointed affirmation of China’s sovereignty claims.
One user humorously remarked, “I married and got one back home; this can also be considered unification.”
Wang’s statements come at a pivotal moment, following the United States’ quiet removal of previous wording from official websites which affirmed that it did not support Taiwan’s formal independence. This subtle shift in Washington’s language has further fuelled international debate over Taiwan’s status, adding to the growing tensions between China, Taiwan, and global powers.
China has repeatedly asserted its sovereignty over Taiwan, increasing military activities around the island and warning against foreign interference in what it deems an internal matter. During his press conference, Wang cautioned that any external support for Taiwan’s independence posed a threat to stability in the Taiwan Strait.
“Seeking Taiwan independence is doomed to backfire, and using Taiwan to contain China will be nothing but a futile attempt,” he said. “China will achieve reunification, and this is unstoppable.”
Wang also issued a stark warning, likening efforts to challenge Beijing’s stance on Taiwan to “a mantis trying to stop a car.”
While Taiwan maintains a democratically elected government and de facto independence, China’s increasing assertiveness raises concerns about the potential for conflict in the region.
