Beijing calls on Washington to “stop colluding with Taiwan independence forces”

Istanbul / Anatolia

On Thursday, China called on the United States to “stop colluding with or supporting separatist forces for Taiwan independence.”

This came in a press conference held by Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin in the capital, Beijing, coinciding with China’s launch of large-scale military exercises around the island of Taiwan, which it claims belongs to it.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said: “Anyone who seeks Taiwan independence will find himself destroyed within the framework of the historical trend of complete reunification of China.”

In response to a question about the two-day joint military exercises conducted by Chinese forces around Taiwan, Wang said that it is “a necessary and legitimate move to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to suppress separatist forces calling for Taiwan independence.”

He added, according to an official text, that “the maneuvers in the vicinity of Taiwan send a warning against external interference and provocation, and this is fully consistent with international law.”

He continued: “I need to confirm that Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory, and this is a fact based on history and the real current situation, and it will remain so in the future.”

He stressed that “Taiwan’s independence is doomed to failure, and the Chinese people will not be deterred from defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Foreign Ministry spokesman added, “The strong Chinese people, numbering 1.4 billion people, will resist any separatist activity for the sake of Taiwan’s independence.”

He urged the United States to “stop colluding with or supporting separatist forces demanding Taiwan independence, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

He warned that “any attempt to endanger China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with a firm response from Beijing.”

Commenting on Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan, Taipei called on Beijing to “exercise restraint and stop undermining peace and stability across and beyond the Strait.”

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Chinese military exercises “lead to escalation of tension in the region.”

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry stressed, “We will continue to protect the status quo across the Strait, and strongly support our democracy.”

Earlier Thursday, China announced the start of comprehensive military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan, only 3 days after the new Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te, took power in the country.

A statement issued by the Eastern Front Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army said that they began a joint military exercise around the Taiwan Strait, the northern, southern and eastern regions of the island, and the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Fuchi and Dongjin near mainland China.

The command statement also stated that the two-day exercise, called “Joint Sword 2024A,” involves units of the ground, air, naval, and missile forces.

It also focuses on “patrol vehicles in the areas surrounding the island of Taiwan, and the units’ real combat capabilities will be tested through joint operations inside and outside the island chain.”

In contrast, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense condemned the announcement of the Chinese army’s maneuvers in a post on the X platform, saying, “We do not seek conflict, but we will not escape from it either. We have full confidence that we will protect our national security.”

These maneuvers, which imposed a blockade around Taiwan, followed the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected leader of the island, Lai Ching-te, on May 20.

Cheng Te, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, who won the presidential elections held on January 13 in Taiwan, was sworn in earlier this week.

In his first speech as president, Lai promised to maintain the status quo on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and called on China to stop threatening his country militarily.

He pointed out that the Taiwanese government will remain committed to sovereignty, democracy, freedom and maintaining the status quo, stressing that “according to the Constitution, the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan) belongs to all the people, and that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not under each other’s authority.”

The Chinese government criticized the Taiwanese leader’s speech because it gave “dangerous signals” that he would seek independence.

China considers Taiwan’s new leader a “pro-independence” and “separatist”, and Chinese officials had referred to him several times before the election with terms such as “irredeemable” and “troublemaker.”

Beijing demands the annexation of Taiwan, an island with a population of 24 million, as a breakaway province, while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

China does not recognize Taiwan’s independence, considers it part of its territory, and rejects any attempts to secede from it. In contrast, Taiwan does not recognize Beijing’s central government.

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