China warns the United States that it will go to “war” if Taiwan declares independence

China warned on Friday that it “will not hesitate to start a war” if Taiwan declares independence, after a meeting in Singapore in which its defense minister and the United States minister compared with their positions on the island effectively separated from the Beijing authorities since 1949.

Chinese minister Wei Fenghe first met his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, on the sidelines of the so-called Shangri-la Dialogue, a forum of senior military officers, diplomats Y arms companies which will take place in Singapore until 12 June.

The state of Taiwan In recent years it has been the subject of diplomatic friction between China and the United States. Beijing regards this island of 24 million people as one of its provinces in which nationalist troops defeated on the continent by the communist forces of Mao Tse-tung took refuge in 1949.

In fact, China often reiterates his goal to take back the island sooner or later and, if necessary, by force.

“If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will not hesitate to start a warwhatever it takes, “Wei said during a meeting with his American counterpart, said Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese defense ministry.

The minister said Beijing too it would “shatter” any attempt at independence on the island and he would defend “with determination the unification of the fatherland”.

Wei also insisted that the island belongs to China and the United States shouldn’t “use Taiwan to contain China”according to the ministry.

Austin, for his part, “reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the (Taiwan) Strait”, which separates the island from the mainland.

The defense secretary also expressed his rejection of “unilateral changes to the status quo” and urged Beijing to “refrain from further destabilizing actions against Taiwan “according to the Pentagon.

Tensions around Taiwan have intensified in recent weeks, most notably due to incursions by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (“Adiz”) in May. the biggest operation of this type since the beginning of the year.

During a visit to Japan in late May, US President Joe Biden surprised by saying Washington would militarily defend Taiwan if China invaded the island.

Shortly thereafter, the White House qualified his statements and assured that the US policy of “strategic ambiguity” with Taiwan remained unchanged.

USA, trample the region

Austin is the latest US senior official to visit Asia at a time Washington is looking refocus its foreign policy on the region from the war in Ukraine.

The Russian offensive is in fact another point of friction between Beijing and Washington, which accuses China of tacitly supporting Moscow.

China is in favor of starting talks to end the war, but has not condemned the Russian invasion and has repeatedly criticized US arms deliveries to Kiev.

The The general claims of China in the South China Sea they also fueled tensions with Washington.

Beijing claims almost all of the sea, rich in resources and through which billions of dollars pass each year in maritime trade. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of that area.

Austin arrived in Singapore on Thursday and met several of his counterparts on Friday.

During a meeting with Southeast Asian defense ministers, he stressed that the US strategy was to do so maintain a safe environment an open, inclusive and law-based region, “according to a Singapore government statement.

His statement indirectly referred to the actions of China, which seeks to increase its influence in the region.

AFP

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