According to reports, the United States is preparing to accelerate arms sales and other military aid to the self-governing island democracy, a move that is sure to anger China.
China’s military today issued a bold and chilling warning to the United States and the world, saying it is ready to “resolutely crush any form of Taiwanese independence.”
The move comes as the United States is believed to be preparing to accelerate arms sales and other military aid to the autonomous island democracy neighboring China.
In a video and bullish statement posted online, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Colonel Tan Kefei called the recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries “an extremely wrong and dangerous move.”
Tan said the People’s Liberation Army “will continue to strengthen military training and preparations, resolutely crush any form of Taiwanese secession as well as attempts at external interference, and resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China insists that the island, with a population of 23 million people, is its own territory and should be controlled by force if necessary.
China, which has the world’s largest navy, the latest generation of fighter jets, and an enormous fleet of ballistic missiles, has increased the threat by sending planes and warships into the waters and airspace around Taiwan.
The People’s Liberation Army ranks as the world’s largest standing army with more than 2 million members, but transporting even a portion of its forces in the event of an invasion is considered a major logistical challenge.
In addition to daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, the Chinese government conducts military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides, with significant security and economic implications around the world. This is seen as part of a dry run for an upcoming blockade or invasion.
These actions are intended to harass Taiwan’s military and intimidate politicians and voters who will elect a new president and legislature next year.
The move appears to have had limited effect, with the majority of Taiwanese strongly supporting maintaining their de facto independent status.
Politicians and other celebrities from Europe and the United States also frequently visit Taipei to show their respect for the Chinese government and show their support, even though the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.
Tan’s comments come as US President Joe Biden prepares to approve a $500 million arms sale to Taiwan, assess training methods and offer suggestions to improve the island’s defenses. The question arose about reports that the country was preparing to send more than 100 military personnel to the United States.
Taiwan has strong support from both the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, which is calling on the Biden administration to fulfill about $19 billion in military supplies that have been approved for sale but have not yet been delivered to Taiwan.
Administration officials have blamed delivery delays on production bottlenecks related to issues such as limited production capacity due to the coronavirus pandemic and increased demand for weapons to support Ukraine.
Biden’s action would enable the export of existing U.S. military stockpiles and accelerate the delivery of at least some of the hardware Taiwan needs to deter or repel a Chinese attack.
The historic deterioration of Sino-American relations, with Taiwan refusing to accept Beijing’s demands for political concessions toward unification, has involved all three parties and, in some cases, treaty allies of the United States, such as Japan. There are growing concerns about the possibility of open conflict.
China’s diplomatic and economic support for Russia after the invasion of Ukraine has also heightened tensions with the United States.
Beijing is believed to be carefully studying Moscow’s military failures in the conflict, but the West’s willingness to support Kiev could be seen as a test of its determination to side with Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China. people are watching.
