UPDATE 2 - China says anyone seeking Taiwan independence will find themselves ‘crushed’

UPDATES WITH TAIWANESE DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT, MINOR EDITS

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China said on Thursday that those supporting independence for Taiwan would find themselves “crushed” as it launched large-scale military drills around the island it claims as its own.

“Anyone seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ will find themselves crushed by the historic trend of China’s complete reunification,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a press briefing in Beijing.

Asked about the two-day joint military drills by People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around Taiwan, Wang said the exercises “are a necessary and legitimate move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, crack down on ‘Taiwan independence' separatist forces and their separatist moves and send a warning to external interference and provocation."

It is fully consistent with international law and common practices, Wang added, according to an official transcript.

The show of strength, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, comes after William Lai Cheng-te's inauguration as Taiwan’s president earlier this week, who called on Beijing to "stop threatening" the island.

"I need to stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This is both a fact based on history and the true status quo, and it will remain so in the future," the spokesman said.

"'Taiwan independence' is doomed to fail. The Chinese people will not be deterred from defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The 1.4 billion strong Chinese people will resolutely push back any separatist activity for 'Taiwan independence'."

He urged the US to "stop conniving at" or "supporting 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces" and "stop meddling in China’s internal affairs."

"Any attempt to endanger China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with China’s resolute response," the spokesman said.

- Taiwan says 'exercise self-restraint'

In response, Taiwan said the Chinese military drills “escalate tension in the region,” and called on Beijing to "exercise self-restraint and stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and beyond."

"We’ll continue to safeguard the cross-strait status quo and firmly uphold our democracy," the Foreign Ministry said on X.

Its Defense Ministry said it detected 49 Chinese military planes around the island, of which 35 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the north, central and southwest parts of Air Defense Identification Zone, both of which are not recognized by China.