A spokeswoman for the Chinese mainland stated on Wednesday that the mainland holds the initiative in cross-Strait relations and will not commit to renouncing the use of force in its pursuit of reunification with Taiwan.
Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized at a press conference that the mainland is committed to creating ample opportunities for peaceful reunification and will make every sincere effort to achieve this goal.
"However, we will never promise to renounce the use of force, nor will we leave any room for any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities," she added.
Zhang's comments were in response to a media inquiry regarding the impact of recent high-level personnel changes in the mainland's military on cross-Strait relations. She stressed that the mainland firmly holds both the initiative and a dominant position in cross-Strait affairs.
The Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member, are under investigation for suspected serious violations of Communist Party of China disciplines and laws.
Addressing the ongoing anti-corruption investigations, Zhang Han stated, "These investigations once again demonstrate that the CPC Central Committee and the CMC have no forbidden zones, cover all areas, and maintain zero tolerance in combating corruption, reflecting the determination and strength of both the Party and the military."
