The Chinese defense ministry has come out with some of Beijing's bluntest language yet on Taiwan, warning Taipei on Thursday that "Independence means war."
The remarks by Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian came after China ramped up its military presence in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend, flying a total of 28 Chinese warplanes-including heavy bombers-into the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone.
People's Liberation Army exercises in the Taiwan Strait were a "Solemn response to external interference and provocations by Taiwan independence forces," said Wu. Taiwan is an "Inalienable part of China's territory" and an "Internal issue," he told reporters at a monthly press conference.
"We warn Taiwan independence elements: those who play with fire will be burned. Taiwan independence means war."
The unusually large military presence near the island on Saturday and Sunday coincided with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt's "Freedom of the seas" operation in the contested South China Sea.
President Tsai Ing-wen has previously said her administration has no plans to declare independence formally, as Taiwan is already a functionally independent country.
Wu did not address the Biden administration's recent pronouncements in support of Taiwan in his press briefing, but called for a reset of relations between Beijing and Washington.
Thursday, January 28, 2021
China Warns Taiwan 'Independence Means War,' Ramps up Military Presence Around Island
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