The spokesperson for the Chinese government, Peng Qing'en, stated that Beijing will not rule out the use of force in the case of Taiwan, emphasizing that peaceful reunification is a priority, but reserves the right to take necessary measures. This statement came in a context where state media promised benign governance in the event of reunification. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to control it.
Taiwanese officials reject these claims, emphasizing that the Chinese model of autonomy, similar to that of Hong Kong and Macao, is not accepted in Taiwan. The government in Taipei believes that Beijing seeks to diminish the island's sovereignty and impose control similar to that in the mentioned regions.