According to Defense Ministry Spokesperson, Col. Tan Kefei, China is prepared to “resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence.”
In a statement and video posted online, Col. Tan Kefei noted that a recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is an “extremely wrong and dangerous move.”
In an apparent reference to Taiwan’s closest ally, the United States, Tan averred, China’s People’s Liberation Army “continues to strengthen military training and preparations and will resolutely smash any form of Taiwanese independence secession along with attempts at outside interference, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The 23 million-person island is claimed by China as its own territory, which it will, if necessary, subjugate via force.
A question from an unnamed reporter regarding rumors that U.S. President Joe Biden is readying to approve the sale of $500 million in arms to Taiwan as well as sending more than 100 military personnel to assess training procedures and make recommendations for enhancing the island’s defenses sparked Tan’s remarks.
With the world’s largest navy, latest-generation fighter jets and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has been backing its threats by sending planes and warships into waters and airspace around Taiwan. With more than 2 million members, the People’s Liberation Army also ranks as the world’s largest standing military, although transporting even a portion of the force in the event of an invasion is considered a huge logistical challenge.
Along with daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, Beijing has held military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait dividing the sides, seen in part as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion that would have massive consequences for security and economies worldwide.
Such actions seek to harass Taiwan’s military and intimidate politicians and voters who will choose a new president and legislature next year.
The moves appear to have had limited effect, with most Taiwanese firmly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status. Politicians and other public figures from Europe and the U.S. have also been making frequent trips to Taipei to show their support, despite their countries’ lack of formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing.
“A Dead End”
Additionally, Tan stated that attempts by Taiwan to “seek independence by relying on the United States” and “seek independence by military might” are a “dead end.”
The remarks made by Tan follow Beijing’s standard tone on what it calls the “core of China’s core interests.” The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing considers bringing Taiwan under its control as key to asserting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
With soured China-U.S. relations and Taiwanese unreceptive to Beijing’s demands for political concessions on unification, concerns are rising about the likelihood of an open conflict involving all three sides and possibly U.S. treaty allies such as Japan.
Taiwan receives strong support from both the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, which have called on the Biden administration to follow through on nearly $19 billion in military items approved for sale but not yet delivered to Taiwan.
Administration officials have blamed bottlenecks in production related to issues from the COVID-19 pandemic to limited capacity and increased demand for arms to assist Ukraine for the delay.
The items on the delayed order include Harpoon anti-ship missiles, F-16 fighter jets, shoulder-fired Javelin and Stinger missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces.
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