Taiwan is already an independent and sovereign polity under the name of the Republic of China (ROC). Chen emphasized the PRC’s claim as the only legitimate government of China, including Taiwan, and the shared history and identity of the Chinese nation. Chen claimed that the PRC was closer to achieving “national rejuvenation” than ever before. National Rejuvenation is a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mantra that describes the Chinese nation’s attainment of lasting greatness by the centennial of the PRC in 2049. It acts as the PRC’s overarching strategic goal and compass for all policymaking, especially economic and foreign policy that aim to make the PRC a leading economic and political power in the world.
The annexation of Taiwan and the political assimilation of other territories that the PRC regards as wayward or lost is a necessary step to achieve national rejuvenation.
