‘Taiwan independence means war’: China’s defence ministry warns Joe Biden against siding with Taipei

Military activities in the Taiwan Strait included flyovers by warplanes and fighter jets, part of Beijing’s ‘stern response to external interference’

Nominee for US ambassador to the UN says Washington must help Taiwan push back against efforts by mainland

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Beijing says it will thwart any attempt to gain independence for Taiwan. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 11:00pm, 28 Jan 2021Updated: 11:25am, 18 Feb 2021

Beijing gave a stern warning to the new Joe Biden administration and Taiwan that the pursuit of independence for the self-ruled island “means war”.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Thursday that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was carrying out military activities in the Taiwan Strait as a necessary “stern response to the interference by external forces and the provocations of the Taiwan independence forces”.

“We are seriously telling those Taiwan independence forces: those who play with fire will burn themselves, and Taiwan independence means war,” Wu told a regular press conference in Beijing.

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any form of Taiwan independence separatist attempts and firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Wu made the statement after military tension in the Taiwan Strait significantly built up in recent years under pro-independence Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and pro-Taiwan former US president Donald Trump. Wu said the seeking of Taiwanese independence was a “bubble” that could make little waves.

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