Asserting that China will not concede ‘a single inch of land’, Xi Jinping dares ‘separatists’

Beijing, March 20: Chinese President Xi Jinping who was re-elected for second five-year term with prospects of continuing as leader for life asserted that China will not concede “a single inch of land” and guard its sovereignty. “The Chinese people and the Chinese nation have a shared conviction which is not a single inch of our land will be and can be ceded from China,” Xi said in a 30-minute-long speech at the end of the 18-day long parliament session.

“Maintaining national sovereignty, territorial integrity and complete unification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all Chinese,” Xi said. “In the face of national righteousness and the tide of history, all attempts or tricks aimed at dividing the motherland are doomed to failure,” Xi said to loud applause. “All will receive the condemnation of the people and the punishment of history.” The Chinese people have the will and ability to “foil all activities to divide the nation” and are united in their belief that “every inch of our great motherland absolutely cannot and absolutely will not be separated from China”, Xi said.

Referring to self-governing Taiwan, Xi said the mainland would continue outreach to advance the cause of “peaceful unification” with the island, whose 23 million residents are strongly in favor of maintaining their de-facto independent status.