Whatever dramatic changes the Taiwan question assumes in the future, the iron law that it must conform to the historical trend cannot be violated.

What is the historical trend? Founding father of the Republic of China Sun Yat-sen maintained that China's failure in reunification is merely a temporary chaos and reunification is an irresistible trend of history, just as both the Yangtze River and the Yellow River eventually flow to the east despite tough obstacles. Albeit unexpected twists and turns, Taiwan's reunification with the Chinese mainland is an inexorable development trend that no one and nothing can ever hinder.

We respect the will of the people, which, however, is divided into the majority and minority. On the serious issue of national unity, we have to listen to the majority of our citizens. There has been no exception since ancient times. Taiwan's option of independence or reunification with the mainland should be determined by the entire Chinese nation including our Taiwan compatriots.

We weigh the pros and cons. National reunification is of prime importance. According to statistics from Taiwan, the aggregate trade volume between the island and the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from January to October 2015 amounted to $129.64 billion, among which Taiwan registered an import surplus of $54.22 billion. The number of cross-Straits personnel exchanges reached a new historical high of 9.411 million in 2014, up by 16.52 percent over the previous year. Taiwan received 3.22 million mainland tourists, an increase of 47 percent on a year-on-year basis. If Taiwan moves toward independence, all the peace dividends will fall through. The advantages and disadvantages of reunification are as plain as daylight.

We calculate the odds of victory. Taiwan's electoral politics has normalized the rotation of ruling parties and whoever leads the island will not change the overall scenario of the cross-Straits ties.

In 2015, the Chinese mainland recorded a GDP aggregate of 67.67 trillion yuan ($10.28 trillion) and the figure for Taiwan was estimated at $550 billion. At present, both sides are pledging to downsize their armies. The size of the People's Liberation Army will soon be cut down to 2 million and that of the Taiwanese army to around 170,000 to 190,000. Furthermore, the mainland now boasts more advanced weaponry than the island. The military parades and drills recently held by the mainland have demonstrated that "Taiwan independence" will finally come to a dead end.

We act in accordance with the law. On national unity, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the National Defense Law of the People's Republic of China and the Anti-Secession Law provide golden rules. No one is allowed to tread on the bottom line and no local law is supposed to break through the legal framework. We must defend the dignity of the law.

We have been underlining the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations, which, nonetheless, in no way means that our will to pursue reunification has weakened. We release goodwill by seeking peaceful development, which constitutes a strategic measure taking into account the wellbeing of compatriots from both the mainland and Taiwan. Our ultimate goal is to realize China's reunification instead of "peaceful secession."

Reunification can be achieved in two ways: peacefully or by force. We will try our best to gain peaceful reunification and seek the maximum national interests with the minimum cost of the people. We once promised not to fight against our fellow countrymen. However, we have no alternative but resort to military force if Taiwan independence proponents push us into a corner.