By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 30: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian on Thursday warned China will not tolerate if the Taiwanese government moved towards a declaration of formal independence. Wu reasserted that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, “The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security.”
The spokesperson said that there were only a “handful” of people seeking the island’s independence. “We warn those ‘Taiwan independence’ elements: those who play with fire will burn themselves, and ‘Taiwan independence’ means war,” he further remarked.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said that China should not underestimate the island’s determination to defend its sovereignty and uphold freedom and democracy. It reported six Chinese aircraft, including four J-10 fighter jets flew into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Thursday. US Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Friday that Taiwan tensions do not “need to lead to anything like confrontation,” but adding that the country has obligations to assist Taiwan with self-defence.
China has described Taiwan as the most important and sensitive issue in relations with the US but the ties soured during the previous administration with the arms sales and senior officials visiting Taipei. President Joe Biden has confirmed its commitment to Taiwan as being “rock solid” in its first week of office. Taiwan has also repeatedly denounced Chinese threats and efforts to intimidate the island, as democratically elected President Tsai Ing-wen vowed to defend its freedom in her last election win.
