China ‘will not hesitate’ to launch war on Taiwan
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fengke said on Friday that the military would launch a war if Taiwan gains independence.
Wei Fengke (center) at the Shangri-la Dialogue Security Forum in Singapore this Friday.
Keystone / EPA / How How Young
During a meeting with his US envoy in Singapore on Friday, the Chinese Defense Minister warned that China would “not hesitate” to go to war if Taiwan declared its independence.
“If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate to start a war at any cost,” said Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry. Fengke did so during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Wei Fengke in Singapore, June 2, 2019.
Keystone / AP Photo / Yong Tech Lim
According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Beijing – which considers the island an integral part of its territory – will “break into a thousand pieces” any attempt for independence.
According to the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin told Wei Fengke that Beijing should “avoid” further destabilizing activities in the region.
He reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposes unilateral changes in the current situation and calls on China (China) to refrain from any unstable actions against Taiwan, according to the same source.
On May 30, 2022 in Lloyd Austin, Arlington.
Keystone / AP Photo / Andrew Hornick
The two officials, who spoke by phone in April, met for the first time since 2019 on the sidelines of the “Shangri-La Conversation” security forum in Singapore, which lasted until Sunday after Lloyd Austin took office. , Due to infection.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
While Washington has accused Beijing of indirectly supporting Moscow, the two powers are at odds over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China has called for talks to end the war but has not condemned Russia and has repeatedly criticized the US supply of arms to Ukraine.
During their telephone conversation in April, the Chinese Defense Minister asked the US Prime Minister not to slander, embarrass, threaten or pressure China.
At the same summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared that “Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia”, pointing to the situation in Taiwan.
Source of tension
The South China Sea is another source of tension between Beijing and Washington. China claims ownership of almost the entire waterway through which trillions of dollars of trade pass each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim the territory.
Beijing ignores 2016 International Court of Justice ruling that its historic claims are unfounded.
During a meeting with Southeast Asian defense ministers, Lloyd Austin discussed US strategy to “maintain an open, inclusive and law-based regional security environment”, according to the Singapore government statement.
His comments are an indirect reference to China’s increasingly assertive stance on the region.
Did you see the error?Please let us know.
“Avid gamer. Social media geek. Proud troublemaker. Thinker. Travel fan. Problem solver.”