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BEIJING: China toughened its language toward Taiwan on Thursday (January 28), warning after recent intensified military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces were taking steps to respond to provocation and disruption. foreign interference.
Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported that several Chinese fighter jets and bombers entered Southwest Taiwan’s air defense identification zone over the weekend, raising concern in Washington.
China believes that the democratically elected government of Taiwan is pushing the island toward a formal declaration of independence, although President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that they are already an independent country called the ROC, their formal name.
When asked at a monthly news conference about recent air force activities, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that Taiwan was an inseparable part of China.
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“The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said.
“They are a solemn response to outside interference and provocations by the forces of ‘Taiwan independence’,” he added.
The Chinese raids coincided with a US carrier battle group entering the disputed South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas.”
Wu said that a “handful” of people in Taiwan were seeking independence for the island.
“We warn those elements of ‘Taiwan independence’: those who play with fire will be burned, and ‘Taiwan independence’ means war,” he added.
