According to a white paper published on Wednesday, China said it would have a zerotolerance policy towards “separatist activities” in Taiwan and insisted it would take back the island by force if necessary.
“The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era,” the white paper released by China’s State Council Office of Taiwan Affairs, lays out how Beijing intends to take over the island through economic stimulus and military pressure.
“We are ready to create a huge space for peaceful reunification, but we will in no way leave space for separatist activities,” the White Paper points out.
Beijing’s warning came after several days of Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan organized in response to a visit to Taip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The congresswoman last week was the best American official to visit Taiwan in decades, despite threats of reprisals from China, which is trying to isolate Taip from the world stage.
“We will work with the utmost sincerity and do everything we can to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force and reserve the option to take any necessary measures,” the document stresses.
“This is to protect us from outside interference and all separatist activities. It is in no way aimed at our Chinese compatriots in Taiwan. The use of force will be the last resort used in dire circumstances,” he adds.
The previous edition of the Taiwan White Paper was published by China in 2000.
Since the 1990s, the island has evolved from an autocracy to a vibrant democracy and developed a distinctive Taiwanese identity.
Relations between the two parties have deteriorated since 2016, when Taiwan’s current President Tsai Ingwen came to power.
Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party do not see Taiwan as part of China.
His platform fits the definition of what China sees as Taiwanese separatism, which also includes those who want the island to have a separate identity from the mainland.
fear of invasion
The Chinese white paper promises economic prosperity and “greater security and dignity” for Taiwan after “reunification”.
But the offer came after the largest military exercise China has organized around the island, including simulated lockdowns.
The maneuvers sparked fears that Chinese communist authorities were preparing for an invasion.
The exercises were supposed to end on Sunday, but continued throughout the week with no final date announced.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday revealed details of drills held in Taiwan the night before.
The PLA’s eastern command said Tuesday’s drills focused on establishing air dominance, releasing videos and photos of fighter jets on takeoff, and performing maneuvers such as inflight refueling with a tanker.
Taiwan has accused China of using Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for an invasion.
The island conducted its own military drills to repel action on its territory and released images of its army, navy and air force maneuvers.
Taiwan’s drills sparked another Chinese alarm on Tuesday.
Any conspiracy to “resist reunification with arms … will end in failure, like an insect trying to stop a carriage,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.