China’s top leaders adopt measured tone on Taiwan at Two Sessions meetings

News Snapshot:

BEIJING – China’s top leaders have kept the tone on Taiwan measured and succinct at Beijing’s annual parliamentary meetings, despite a recent fatal maritime clash near the Taiwan-ruled Kinmen islands that has increased cross-Strait tensions. In his work report delivered on March 5, Premier Li Qiang only broadly restated China’s usual position on Taiwan, while Mr Wang Huning – the Communist Party’s fourth-ranked official – kept mention of cross-Strait ties to a minimum in another report a day earlier. Mr Li said Beijing will “resolutely oppose separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence and external interference”, while promoting the “peaceful development...