China, Hong Kong and Macao are holding widespread ceremonies to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the communist People's Republic of China. In an address on the eve of the celebrations, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated claims over democratically self-ruled Taiwan, a message Taiwan has denounced.
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00:00A flag-raising ceremony in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, this, where a public uprising was
00:13once brutally crushed, is the focal point for the pomp and ceremony for the 75th anniversary
00:20of the Communist People's Republic of China, or PRC.
00:26And in address on the eve of the celebrations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that though
00:32the path ahead will see challenges, nothing can stop China's progress, which includes
00:38his ambition to take control of self-ruled democratic Taiwan.
00:55It's a claim repeatedly rejected by Taiwan. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's main
01:01body handling matters with China, quickly denounced Xi Jinping's comments, issuing
01:06a written statement, here translated, reminding the Chinese president that Taiwan has never
01:12been a part of the PRC, calling this an objective fact, and that Beijing's one-China principle
01:19has long been rejected by most Taiwanese people.
01:22The council also referred to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-chah's inauguration speech in May,
01:28where he urged China to face the reality of the Republic of China's existence, Taiwan's
01:34official name, and to treat Taiwan as equals.
01:36I also urge China to stop its aggression against Taiwan, and to shoulder global responsibility
01:43with Taiwan, in order to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and region.
01:53China's Xi clearly seeing things differently, grouping Taiwan with Hong Kong and Macau in
02:00his speech, claiming them all under one unified Chinese nation.
02:06This rhetoric of a greater China coming at a time of increasing internal pressure. With
02:12its economy in decline, Beijing has had to announce a historic stimulus package hoping
02:17to boost growth.
02:20While on the military front, it's exerted its dominance through a recent rare test launch
02:25of an intercontinental ballistic missile into international waters. China's strength and
02:31grandeur on show here too, as it is in similar ceremonies in Hong Kong and Macau.
02:41All this to remind its people and those outside that modern China is a force to be reckoned
02:47with.
02:48Dolphin Chen and Joyce Sun for Taiwan Plus.