China is willing to do it “totally crush any form of Taiwanese independence”the Chinese military warned on Tuesday, amid reports that the United States is preparing to speed up the sale of defensive weapons and other supplies to the autonomous island.
The recent increase in exchanges between US and Taiwanese forces is “an extremely wrong and dangerous step,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Tan Kefei said in a statement posted online.
The People’s Liberation Army (Chinese Army) “continues to intensify its training and preparations and will totally crush all forms of Taiwanese independence along with attempts at foreign interference and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Tan said, referring to the United States.
China claims Taiwan, an autonomous island of 23 million people, as its territory and has threatened to annex it, by force if necessary.
With the world’s largest navy, ultra-modern warfare jets and a vast arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has stepped up its threats, sending planes and ships into Taiwan’s vicinity. The Chinese military, which has more than 2 million troops, it is the largest active army in the world, although transporting even a fraction of that army would likely be a difficult logistical challenge.
Aside from its air and naval raids on Taiwan’s vicinity, Beijing has conducted military exercises across the Taiwan Strait that have been seen as a dress rehearsal for a blockade or invasion, which would have huge consequences for the global economy and safety.
Such actions are intended to harass Taiwanese forces and intimidate voters who will elect a new president and legislature next year.
The actions, however, do not appear to have much effect on the Taiwanese, who remain largely in favor of maintaining their de facto independence. Politicians from Europe and the United States also traveled to Taipei to show their support, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations out of respect for Beijing.
Tan’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question on the news that US President Joe Biden should approve $500 million worth of arms sales to Taiwan and send more than 100 military personnel to assess the training methods and offer suggestions for improving the island’s defenses.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.