China Warns It'll Use Military Action to 'Stop Taiwan Independence' as U.S. Officials

[Boats]

China Warns It'll Use Military Action to 'Stop Taiwan Independence' as U.S. Officials Visit Island
By: Nicole Fallert - Newsweek News - 04-14-21
Re: https://www.newsweek.com/china-warns...3568?piano_t=1

Just before American officials arrived in Taiwan at President Joe Biden's request, China warned it would not rule out the use of military action to keep the island nation from "the interference of external forces."

"The signal given by the military drills is that we are determined to stop Taiwan independence, and stop Taiwan from working with the US. We are doing it with action," Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said to reporters on Tuesday.

Ma's comments come as former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and former deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg are headed to Taiwan for a meeting that the White House considers a "personal signal" of Biden's commitment to the island's democracy, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Americans' three-day stay in Taiwan will include a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday, as well as discussion of the two nations' relations. Taiwanese officials are set to brief the U.S. officials on China's actions in their territory and ask for increased support from Biden in matters of trade, economy and security, The Wall Street Journal reported.

John Kerry, Biden's climate envoy, is set to visit Shanghai at the same time to speak about bilateral climate actions with Beijing, but he said in an interview that working with China on climate issues wouldn't change the U.S.' stance on Taiwan.

As Biden amps up relations with Taipei, Beijing has responded that the U.S. must cease its meetings with the island and has expressed a willingness to escalate military force against Taiwan to make its message heard.

"We do not promise to abandon the use of force, and retain the option of taking all necessary measures," Ma said. "We are aimed at the interference of external forces and the very small number of separatists and their separatist activities. We are definitely not aimed at compatriots in Taiwan."

Ma added: "The People's Liberation Army's military exercises and training operations are sending a signal that our determination to curb Taiwan independence and Taiwan-U.S. collusion is not just talk."

Photo link: https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/17778...e5728b4dad06d9
China issued a warning it would not rule out military force to make its message clear that the U.S. should cease exchanges with Taiwan, a nation Beijing considers to be part of its territory. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen waves to the supporters at the celebration of the 14th presidential inauguration on May 20, 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan.
By: ASHLEY PON/GETTY IMAGES

China's urgency occurs amid increased tension between the mainland and the U.S. regarding their relations with Taiwan. The island has existed as an independent nation with the support of Western nations including the U.S., but China has continued to claim Taiwan as part of its official territory.

The Journal reported earlier this week that an unclassified report by Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that China is the number-one threat facing the U.S., and that assimilating Taiwan serves as a part of Beijing's consolidation strategy in the effort to overwhelm U.S. hegemony.

And now China has committed its largest incursion into Taiwanese territory to date, Reuters reported. By "military drills," Ma referred to China breaching Taiwan's airspace on Monday and Tuesday, when Beijing sent 25 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a press conference on Tuesday the U.S. should "not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue, immediately stop any form of U.S.-Taiwan official contacts, cautiously and appropriately handle the matter, and not send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces so as not to subversively influence and damage Sino-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," according to Reuters.

But the Biden administration hasn't showed any sign of backing down from Taiwan. Just before China entered Taiwan's airspace this week, the U.S. Department of State had issued new guidelines for U.S.-Taiwan relations, pulling back restrictions on official relations with Taiwan to foster more interaction with the nation. According to a State Department press release, the new protocol "underscores Taiwan is a vibrant democracy."

In an interview with NBC News' Meet the Press, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said it "would be a serious mistake" if China were to use military force against Taiwan.

"We have a commitment to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, a bipartisan commitment that's existed for many, many years, to make sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself, and to make sure that we're sustaining peace and security in the western Pacific," Blinken said. "We stand behind those commitments. And all I can tell you is it would be a serious mistake for anyone to try to change the existing status quo by force."

Newsweek has reached out to the State Department for comment on China's warning, but did not receive a reply by publication time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note: I wouldn't put anything past China's reconsiderations. They want Taiwan badly
and they will fight to get it. So we had better be ready once it begins. I don't worry so much
about Russia - but - China is also a wild card along with Kim in North Korea. These are two very
radical countries. We must never under estimate - or - take either of them for granted.
-
Boats