China’s ambassador to India renews Taiwan claim, says reunification ‘inevitable'

China’s envoy in India reiterates Taiwan claim, calls reunification ‘inevitable’

China has reiterated its long-standing claim over Taiwan, with Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong asserting that the island has been part of China since ancient times, amid rising regional tensions and increased military activity around the Taiwan Strait.

In remarks outlining Beijing’s position, Xu said, “Taiwan has belonged to China since antiquity. The history and legal facts are very clear.” He argued that Taiwan’s status is firmly grounded in historical and legal evidence and maintained that reunification with the mainland is inevitable.

The envoy referred to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October 1949, stating that it replaced the Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. “Despite the change of government, China, as a subject of international law, did not change. The PRC government naturally has and exercises China’s full sovereignty, including sovereignty over Taiwan,” he said.

🔹Taiwan has belonged to China🇨🇳 since antiquity. The history and legal facts are very clear.

🔹The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded in October 1949, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the… pic.twitter.com/ip6hkuXG8X — Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) January 4, 2026

Xu also pointed to the Chinese civil war and what he described as foreign intervention as reasons for the prolonged political divide across the Taiwan Strait. “Due to the lingering civil war and the intervention of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation,” he said, adding that China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity had never been divided.

Emphasising Beijing’s stance on Taiwan’s political status, Xu said, “Taiwan is never an independent sovereign state, not in the past, not at present and still less in the future.” He further asserted that “whatever the DPP authorities say or do, the historical trend that China must and will achieve reunification cannot be obstructed.”

The remarks come as tensions continue to simmer over Taiwan, with Beijing repeatedly opposing any moves it views as supporting independence for the self-ruled island.