As the China-Japan conflict over the Taiwan issue enters a prolonged phase, China has been emphasizing messages of integration day after day. Chinese President Xi Jinping and authorities highlighted the significance and importance of integrating Hong Kong and Macau, foregrounding agendas such as advancing women and promoting sports.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 24th, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan Bay Area women's integration and cooperation development event was held in Guangzhou, China, on the 22nd to 23rd. China has been bundling nine cities in Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau into a single economic zone, the "Greater Bay Area," to promote regional integration. Under the theme of "jointly building happy families and jointly creating a better future," about 300 guests attended, including women representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong and Macau, foreign envoys in China, and representatives of international organizations.
The event emphasized national development and regional integration through the advancement of families and women. Shen Yiqin, chair of the All-China Women's Federation, linked the advancement of families and women to national development at the opening ceremony and said, "We must faithfully implement President Xi's important instructions regarding the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, better bring out the role of women in the development of the 'one country, two systems' initiative, and rally the power of the 'family' to promote the coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area." While the event put women and family development at the forefront, the message it ultimately sought to convey is interpreted as focusing on regime propaganda and integration with Taiwan.
A similar message emerged at the recently concluded 15th National Games as well. According to the state-run Global Times, this National Games was co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau for the first time ever. Xi personally attended the opening ceremony and declared the Games open. On the 9th of this month, in connection with the Games, Xi met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chairperson Kirsty Coventry and others, emphasizing that "this National Games will not only showcase the achievements of sports development in China in the new era, but also present the spectacle of Chinese-style modernization unfolding in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area."
In a report on the 23rd, the Global Times introduced the significance of the event and stressed regional integration. The Global Times said, "This is the first time Hong Kong and Macau have appeared as host cities in a major comprehensive sports event, and the scene of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau delegations marching in together became a historic moment that gave deep emotion to residents of the Greater Bay Area." It continued, "Exchanges through sports promote emotional exchange and realize integration that proceeds from 'physical consolidation → institutional consolidation → emotional consolidation,' and it will remain a record that will go down in the history of Chinese sports and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area."
This is seen as China emphasizing the "success story" of integrating Guangdong with Hong Kong and Macau to imprint on the international community the image that China is absorbing and managing Hong Kong and Macau stably, while continuing to press Taiwan for integration.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also elevated the Taiwan issue to a matter of the postwar order in an interview the previous day. Calling Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks hinting at involvement in the Taiwan issue "wrong words and deeds that openly infringe on China's core interests and challenge the international order after World War II," Wang said, "The one-China principle is an unshakable universal consensus of the international community."
Wang said, "What Japan must do most is to deeply reflect on its history of invading and colonially ruling Taiwan, to deeply reflect on the war crimes committed by militarism, to abide by rules on the Taiwan and historical issues, and to be prudent in words and deeds." He added, "The Japanese government made solemn commitments on the Taiwan issue in the four China-Japan political documents, which carry the force of international law and leave no ambiguity or room for misunderstanding. No matter which party or person comes to power in Japan, they must abide by them," urging reflection by the Japanese government.