Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Thursday that Taiwan’s reunification with mainland China is inevitable, describing the issue as an “unwavering historical mission” of the Chinese Communist Party while publicly reaffirming Beijing’s stated commitment to a peaceful resolution.

Speaking at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People during a ceremony marking the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, Xi insisted that the island would eventually come under Beijing’s control. “The tide of history cannot be stopped,” Xi said. “The complete reunification of the motherland must be realized, and it will certainly be realized.”

Xi said China would continue pursuing “peaceful reunification” under its proposed “one country, two systems” framework and expressed willingness to negotiate with Taiwan based on Beijing’s interpretation of the “one-China principle.” The framework would grant Taiwan a degree of autonomy while placing it under Chinese sovereignty, but it has been rejected by Taiwan’s major political parties.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, despite the island’s democratic government maintaining its own political and military institutions and rejecting China’s sovereignty claims. China has also continued operating military forces around Taiwan on a daily basis, maintaining pressure on the island as tensions across the Taiwan Strait persist.

Xi called on Chinese people, including those living in Taiwan, to oppose what Beijing describes as separatist forces supporting Taiwanese independence. He also urged both sides to work toward the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Taiwan’s government had not immediately responded to Xi’s remarks.

The speech coincided with the anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth. Sun helped lead the 1911 revolution that ended centuries of imperial rule in China. Although Beijing portrays him as a national hero and a forerunner of the communist revolution, his legacy is also central to Taiwan’s political history.

Taiwan officially regards Sun as the “father of the nation,” and his portrait hangs in the presidential office. Last month, Taiwan’s government urged its people to avoid Chinese events commemorating the anniversary, accusing Beijing of presenting a distorted account of Sun’s life and legacy.