China hopes for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but not ruling out use of force

While Beijing views peaceful reunification with Taiwan as the optimal scenario, it does not rule out the use of force either, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, said, commenting on the fact that relevant wording is missing from the government’s latest annual report.

"Peaceful reunification and ‘the one country - two systems’ [principle] are the main policy course that we have been pursuing in order to resolve the Taiwan issue. This is the best way toward reunification with Taiwan," Chen said. "However, we in no way promise that we will refrain from using force as we retain the right to use all necessary measures," he warned.

According to the politician, such an approach is aimed at countering interference by external forces and a very small group of "Taiwanese separatists."