China intensifies its efforts to reunite Taiwan

(RT) ⸻ Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has reiterated Beijing's commitment to the One China principle, which states that Taiwan is part of China. He urged China to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance the process of China's peaceful reunification. Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, but has never officially declared independence from China. Beijing considers the island to be a part of its territory and strongly opposes its contacts with the US, which backs Taipei's push for sovereignty and sells state-of-the-art weapons to the government of President Tsai Ing-wen.Tensions around Taiwan have remained high since August, when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei despite warnings from the Chinese authorities. Beijing responded to what it called a "serious provocation" by launching the largest ever military drills in the Taiwan Strait and slapping trade restrictions on the island. In late January, the head of US Air Mobility Command warned that an armed conflict between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan could break out as early as 2025.