Advertisement
Beijing warns it will take ‘drastic measures’ if Taiwan makes moves towards independence
- Tawian Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang says mainland China will have to respond to ‘provocations’ from ‘separatist forces’
- This year saw a record number of fly-pasts from the People’s Liberation Army, generating concern in Washington
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
38
Mainland China will take “drastic measures” if Taiwan makes moves towards independence, a Beijing official warned on Wednesday, adding that Taiwan’s provocations and outside meddling could intensify next year.
Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its claim of sovereignty, fuelling anger in Taipei and concern in Washington.
01:14
Taiwan builds ‘ironman’ exoskeleton suit to boost troop endurance on battlefield
Taiwan builds ‘ironman’ exoskeleton suit to boost troop endurance on battlefield
The mainland side is willing to try its utmost to seek peaceful reunification with Taiwan but will act if any red lines on independence are crossed, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office, told a media briefing.
Advertisement
“If separatist forces in Taiwan seeking independence provoke, exert force or even break through any red line, we will have to take drastic measures,” Ma said.
Beijing regularly describes the island as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States.
Advertisement
US President Joe Biden signed into law a defence spending blueprint that said Taiwan should be invited to its RIMPAC exercises – the world’s largest naval exercise – next year.
Taiwan recorded the largest number of mainland Chinese fly-pasts in October, when both sides were holding national day celebrations and the US and its allies conducted a series of naval exercises in nearby waters.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x