Threatening gestures against island nation: China defends maneuver on Taiwan border

Wednesday 13 October 2021

Threatening gestures against the island nation
China defends exercise on Taiwan border

Chinese military machines repeatedly attacked Taiwan’s air defense area. Beijing is justifying the maneuver with aspirations for the island state’s independence. The People’s Republic of Taiwan warned that the detachment would “only bring misfortune”.

According to official reports, the latest maneuver by the Chinese armed forces is aimed at independence efforts in Taiwan and the intervention of other states such as the United States in the conflict. Taiwan State Council Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told reporters in Beijing that the exercises were necessary “to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity”. “Taiwan’s independence will only bring misfortune to compatriots in Taiwan.”

The military actions had increased tensions around Taiwan. A record number of Chinese military aircraft were repeatedly broken into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to conduct air defense for testing. In the coastal province of Fujian, on the other side of the Democratic Republic of the island, Chinese troops performed beach landing maneuvers.

The Communist leadership in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. China’s head of state and party Xi Jinping stepped up the pressure on Saturday and called on 23 million Taiwanese to peacefully join the People’s Republic. He warned that Taiwan’s secession would “end badly”.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen declined the request. Only the people can decide the future of a democratic country, but they want to maintain their independent lifestyle. Anyway, Taiwan has long considered itself independent. The conflict also affects relations between China and the United States, which are committed to Taiwan’s defense capabilities and arms supplies. Beijing accused Washington of meddling.