Tension in the southern sea area began to escalate this Thursday after China began with strong military exercises after considering that the new Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, committed “separatist acts.” It is the second day of war maneuvers around the island to test their ability to “seize power” and control key areas. In that context, he also accused the United States of “giving shelter” to these types of practices.
The two days of exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan-controlled island groups off the Chinese coast began just three days after Lai’s inauguration. China, which considers Taiwan as its own territory, denounces Lai as a “separatist” after in his inauguration speech he urged Beijing “to put an end to its threats” and affirmed that the two sides of the strait “are not subordinated to the at each other”.
As a reply, The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said in a brief statement that its forces continued their exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword – 2024A,” on Friday. The objective of the exercises is “test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas.”
According to the agency Reuters, Lai repeatedly offered to hold talks with China, which were rejected. Furthermore, he stated that “only the people of Taiwan can decide their future and reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims.”
Crossing with the US
“China will never tolerate any attempt by anyone to harbor separatist activities that seek Taiwan’s independence under any pretext,” The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said this Friday, Wang Wenbin, in reference to statements by a US official about joint military exercises carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army around the island of Taiwan, according to the agency Xinhua.
He was the commander of the United States Indo-Pacific CommandStephen D. Sklenkawho considered that the military maneuvers are “worrying” and called on his main commercial enemy to act with self-control.
“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and the United States is not in a position to point fingers at China,” Wang said, adding that the tensions in the Taiwan Strait They are caused by the attempts of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence” and by the attempt of some people in the United States to use Taiwan to contain China in the name of regional peace and stability.
“If the US side really wants to keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it must unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose Taiwan independence,” said the Chinese foreign minister. Furthermore, he stated that “the world has spoken out in favor of justice,” given that in recent days, political leaders and people from various sectors in many countries “have reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle and support for “China’s opposition to separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence and the cause of national reunification, proving once again that the international community’s continued commitment to the one-China principle is simply unwavering.”
The official also issued a strong warning to those who support separatist activities: “Anyone who conspires in favor of Taiwanese independence and supports it He will burn for playing with fire, and that nothing will deter China from defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We will do whatever is necessary to thwart any attempt at ‘Taiwan independence,'” the spokesperson added.
With information from Reuters
