Taiwan Asserts Its Will to Defend Itself as China Vows to Boost Combat Readiness
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “shows zero tolerance for separatist activities aimed at Taiwan’s independence,” said a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Defense on Thursday, when asked about recent speeches by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te.
The PLA will enhance combat readiness to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang at a regular press briefing, according to Reuters.
“Lai’s administration is constantly pushing Taiwan into a dangerous war situation; they are the source of threats to the lives of the Taiwanese people,” Zhang stated, adding that Lai’s comments reveal his “malicious intentions.”
On Sunday, Lai began a series of 10 speeches on “national unification,” stating that the democratically governed Taiwan is “naturally a state” and that China has neither legal nor historical rights over it.
Beijing and Taipei have clashed over their opposing interpretations of history in an escalating war of words.
Beijing stated that it is impossible to “invade” what is already Chinese territory.
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control and harbors a particular resentment toward Lai, labeling him a “separatist.”
Taiwan strongly opposes China’s sovereignty claims and says the island’s future should be decided by its own people.
Tensions between China and Taiwan now include the daily deployment of air and naval forces near the island.
China’s most recent military drills in April and October were widely viewed by regional military attachés as a test of a potential blockade of Taiwan.
The U.S. and its regional allies are closely monitoring the situation, with some officials warning that China’s troop deployments and military modernization have increased the likelihood that Beijing might one day act on its threat to seize Taiwan by force.
