Many young Taiwanese oppose China's unification as Beijing intensifies pressure on the island, including military drills & threats of force.

Taipei City

Taiwanese youth in Taipei continue with their daily lives despite recent Chinese military exercises near the island. Many young people, such as engineering student Wade Hung, express a clear distinction between their Taiwanese identity and Chinese nationality, emphasizing differences in political ideology and personal freedoms.

The historical split between China and Taiwan, rooted in Chiang Kai-shek's flight to the island in 1949, continues to influence current tensions. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated that reunification is 'unstoppable,' with Beijing warning it could use force as early as 2027, casting a shadow over celebrations as the new year begins in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s youth reject China's push for reunification amid threats

Far from China's war games along their coastlines earlier this week in an underground mall in Taipei Taiwan's youth are absorbed in video games meeting friends and browsing hobby shops Everyday pursuits that could vanish if tensions boil over This is the generation that could one day be on the front lines fighting against China Wade Hung is an engineering student at Taipei Tech and about to start his mandatory military service He says war with China feels closer than ever If I put myself in the shoes of those who fought in World War one and World War two I think I would also be very scared But I still have to stand up and fight because I don't want to be Chinese When you say I'm ethnically Chinese, I can relate to that. But when it comes to our nationality That's different. Their ideology is completely different from ours They are an authoritarian country where you basically have to do whatever the party says People in Taiwan still have more choices If there is a war he says he sees no winners China and Taiwan have a shared history, but the majority of Taiwanese say their future is separate You can't really talk about the China Taiwan split without mentioning this man Chiang Kai-shek. His authoritarian rule made him a deeply controversial figure But it has to be said he did help lay the foundations of what Taiwan looks like today After losing China's civil war in 1949 Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan and set up a rival government Creating the split with Beijing that still drives tensions today He began what would become the modern state but ruled through martial law and political repression Taiwan has since broken from the past Transforming into a vibrant democracy with its own identity. One China still refuses to accept In a New Year's Eve address just days after the drills Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated his warning that reunification with Taiwan is in his own words Unstoppable. Beijing says it could take the island by force as soon as 2027 As Fireworks light up the night sky and 2026 begins Celebrations here take place under the shadow of a looming threat that could define the year ahead Zain Basravi, Al Jazeera, Taipei

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Breakdown