China has said it will pursue a policy of zero tolerance for “separatist activities” in Taiwan and will forcibly retake the island if necessary, according to a report released Wednesday.
The white paper “The Taiwan Question and China’s New Age Reunification”, published by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, outlines how Beijing plans to seize the island through economic incentives and military pressure.
“We are ready to create ample space for peaceful reunification, but by no means will we leave room for separatist activity,” the white paper states. Said.
Beijing’s warning comes after several days of Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan in response to the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
The congressman last week became the top American official to visit Taiwan in decades, despite the threat of retaliation from China, which is trying to isolate Taipei from the world stage.
“We will work with the utmost sincerity and will do everything possible to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not cease to use force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures,” the document said.
“This is to protect us from outside interference and from all separatist activities. It is in no way aimed at our Chinese compatriots in Taiwan. The use of force in difficult situations will be a last resort,” he adds.
The previous edition of the Taiwan white paper was published by China in 2000.
Since the 1990s, the island has transitioned from an autocracy to a vibrant democracy and has developed a specific Taiwanese identity.
Relations between the two parties have deteriorated since 2016, when Taiwan’s current president, Tsai Ing-wen, took power.
Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party do not see Taiwan as part of China.
His platform fits what China sees as Taiwanese separatism, including those who want the island to have a separate identity from the mainland.
Image: Reuters
fear of invasion
The Chinese white paper promises Taiwan “more security and dignity” after “reunification” as well as economic prosperity.
But the proposal comes after China’s largest military exercise around the island, including quarantine exercises.
The maneuvers created fears that the Chinese communist authorities were preparing an invasion.
The exercises were supposed to end on Sunday, but continued throughout the week with no closing date announced.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced the details of the exercises held around Taiwan the previous day.
The PLA’s eastern command said Tuesday’s simulations are focused on establishing air dominance, posting videos and photos of warplanes taking off, and performing maneuvers such as mid-flight refueling with a tanker.
Taiwan accuses China of using Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for invasion.
The island conducted its own military exercises to counter an incursion on its territory and posted footage of the maneuvers of its army, navy and air force.
Taiwanese exercises sparked another Chinese alarm on Tuesday.
“Any plot to resist reunification by weaponry will fail, like an insect trying to stop a car,” said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry.
source: Noticias
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