BEIJING (Reuters) – China hardened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after the recent surge in military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces are acting to respond to foreign provocation and interference .
Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported that several Chinese fighters and bombers entered the southwestern Taiwan’s air defense identification zone over the weekend, raising concern in Washington.
China believes Taiwan’s democratically elected government is leading the island to a formal declaration of independence, although President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that they are already an independent country called the Republic of China, their formal name.
Asked at a monthly news conference about the recent activities of the air forces, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.
“The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to deal with the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said.
“They are a solemn response to outside interference and provocation by the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” he added.
Chinese incursions coincided with the entry of a battle group of US aircraft carriers into the disputed South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas”.
Wu said a “handful” of people in Taiwan are seeking independence from the island.
“We warn the elements of ‘Taiwan independence’: those who play with fire will burn and ‘Taiwan independence’ means war,” he added.
Democratic Taiwan denounced China’s threats and intimidation efforts, and Tsai promised to defend the island’s freedom and not be coerced.
China routinely describes Taiwan as its most important and sensitive issue in relations with the United States, which, under the former Trump administration, has increased support for the island in terms of arms sales and visits by senior officials to Taipei.
President Joe Biden’s government, in office for a week, reaffirmed his commitment to Taiwan as being “rock solid”, potentially presaging new tensions with Beijing.
(Reporting by Tony Munroe, written by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Himani Sarkar, William Maclean)