Facts

• According to an official Chinese document released on Wed., China has withdrawn its pledge not to send troops or administrators to Taiwan if it takes control of the island - a promise previously included in the 1993 and 2000 white papers.
• The updated document is titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era." The "new era" is often associated with Pres. Xi's rule, who is expected to secure a third term as China's president later this year.
• The document repeated a previous proposal of "one country, two systems" which said Taiwan could retain some of its sovereignty and democratic systems upon reunification with China, similar to how Hong Kong is ruled.
• Previous documents also included a line saying "anything can be negotiated" as long as Taiwan accepts that there is only one China and doesn't seek independence. This line was also removed from the most recent document.
• The publication comes in the wake of China's recent military drills surrounding Taiwan, in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to the island, with Beijing accusing the US of meddling in its internal affairs.
• The Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command has since announced the end of its ongoing drills, but unveiled plans to conduct regular patrols near the island.