Bangkok, June 2 (EFE).- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warned this Sunday that the “Taiwanese separatists” and the “foreign forces” pushing towards Taiwan’s independence from China will end up “self-destructing.”
“What they are doing is promoting Taiwan’s independence in an attempt to contain China. These are malicious actions that are putting Taiwan in a dangerous situation,” Dong said during a speech in Singapore where he is participating in the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum. The.
“We are committed to peaceful reunification, but the situation is constantly being eroded by separatists and foreign forces,” Dong stressed without citing the United States.
China and the US maintain differences regarding the autonomy and status of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a rebellious province that does not rule out invading, while the United States is committed to defending its autonomy.
In May, the Chinese Army carried out large military maneuvers on land and in the air that practically surrounded ancient Formosa, actions condemned both inside and outside Taiwan.
Dong, who met on Friday with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in parallel to the defense forum in the Asian city-state, assured that foreign forces “interfere” through laws and the sale of weapons, as well as maintain “contacts illegal officers”.
While he accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which won the May elections, of “erasing” Taiwan’s Chinese identity and “cutting historical, social and cultural ties” with Beijing.
“The danger of national division is there (…) China will act resolutely to avoid any attempt at independence,” remarked the Chinese military officer.
Another hot topic, where Beijing and Washington also have opposing positions, is the growing sovereignty tension in the South China Sea between China and some Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.
During his speech, Dong pointed out that “some countries” are spreading “false stories” in the aforementioned sea and illegally deploying missiles in the region, although without expressly mentioning the Philippines and the US.
“Some powers are increasing their presence in the area (of the South China Sea). What is the purpose? Are they coming to maintain peace or stir up trouble?” commented the minister, in a veiled reference to the greater collaboration between Manila and Washington. , which in 2023 agreed to expand the number of US bases in the Asian country.
Dong also assured that China has never used force, despite the fact that Chinese ships have fired water cannons on Philippine ships on several occasions in disputed waters in the South China Sea, as shown in images released by Manila. EFE
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