The USA have the latest major Chinese maneuver around Taiwan criticized. China’s military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan
and other countries in the region are “unnecessarily increasing tensions,” US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. He called on China to “exercise restraint, end its military pressure on Taiwan and instead engage in constructive dialogue.”
The Chinese army held a maneuver with dozens of fighter jets and naval ships around the democratically ruled island of Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday and also fired rockets. The blockade of important Taiwanese ports and attacks on targets at sea were simulated.
A number of Western countries – including Germany, France and Australia as well as the EU – expressed concern about the large-scale maneuver. US President Donald Trump, however, reacted demonstratively calmly on Monday. He has a “great relationship” with the Chinese head of state Xi Jinpinghe said. “I don’t think he will do that,” Trump added, apparently referring to a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Xi Jinping reiterates China’s willingness to “reunify” with Taiwan
China sharply rejected international criticism of the military maneuver on Thursday. The countries and institutions in question knowingly ignored that “separatist forces in Taiwan are trying to achieve independence through military means,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
China’s President Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s message that “the reunification” of China with Taiwan is “unstoppable”. The Taiwanese head of state Lai Ching-te, on the other hand, invoked the sovereignty of the island. “My stance has always been clear: I will steadfastly defend national sovereignty,” Lai said in his New Year’s address. He also wants to “build comprehensive and effective deterrence capacities and develop robust democratic defense mechanisms.”
China has repeatedly held large-scale exercises around Taiwan in recent years. The government in Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland – if necessary with military force.
Tensions in the region had recently worsened further after The USA had announced an arms contract worth eleven billion dollars (9.33 billion euros) with Taiwan. China then announced “decisive and powerful measures” to protect its territory.
