Taiwan independence means war: China

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – “Taiwan independence” means war, warned China’s Defense Ministry on Thursday, state media reported.

“Division brings no peace,” ministry spokesman Wu Qian said, referring to Taiwan’s separation from mainland China.

His comments came in the wake of China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last week following the inauguration of William Lai Ching-te as president of the island nation which Beijing deems its own.

Wu said People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was “fully prepared and stays on alert.”

“We will take resolute actions to smash any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist attempts and thwart any foreign interference,” Wu said in response to Lai’s presidential speech.

Beijing considers it as “separatist speech.”

“Taiwan is a part of China. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, not something for the US to meddle in,” said Wu, slamming US State Department’s “concern” over the military exercises.

Wu also criticized the US over “false narrative” around freedom of navigation.

“It is a false narrative. There is a huge difference between navigation and trespassing and between freedom and willfulness,” Wu said.

He was reacting to the US Defense Department's Freedom of Navigation Report for 2023.

“We firmly stand against ‘willful trespassing’ and oppose any country conducting unlawful provocations in the name of ‘freedom of navigation’ to harm the sovereignty and security of coastal countries and undermine regional peace and stability,” Wu added.

The US and its allies routinely fly and sail military aircraft and warships in the disputed South China Sea as well as in and over Taiwan Strait under the guise of freedom of navigation in international airspace and waters.

Beijing has opposed such activities and has flown and sailed its own military planes and warships in response.

- Cooperation with Russia

On bilateral military cooperation with Russia, Wu said the two sides “will further deepen mutual trust and cooperation, expand the scale of joint exercises and hold maritime and air joint patrols regularly.”

Reacting to the US accusations of supplying military-level hardware to Moscow, Wu claimed Beijing "always adopts a prudent and responsible attitude towards export of military products, and strictly manages export of dual-use articles."

Referring to the US deployment of mid-range missile system to the Philippines, Wu said: "Those who invite wolves into the house will get bitten."

The US used Filipino military bases for its operations in the region.

Meanwhile, Wu said the PLA Navy will dispatch the Xuchang frigate to Nigeria for a multilateral joint exercise.

The exercise will revolve around countering-piracy and oil theft.