Beijing has expressed its preparedness in response to a warning from a US military official who stated that China is actively strengthening its capabilities to potentially invade Taiwan by 2027.
Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Wu Qian, emphasized on Thursday that Taiwan is an integral part of China and any external interference in the Taiwan issue is not acceptable.
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China has made a firm commitment to eventually assert its control over Taiwan, despite the fact that the Chinese Communist Party has never had a presence on the island.
China has significantly ramped up its military operations in the vicinity of the self-governing island, compelling Taipei to intensify its endeavors in enhancing its defense capabilities.
During his visit to Japan, Admiral John Aquilino, the chief of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, informed reporters on Tuesday that China is making significant progress towards its goal of taking Taiwan by 2027.
According to CIA Director Bill Burns, there is intelligence suggesting that Chinese President Xi Jinping has given a timeline to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for a potential invasion. It is important to note, however, that this does not guarantee that China will actually proceed with such an invasion.
Aquilino stated his belief that China will persist in its swift military expansion, irrespective of the economic challenges it currently faces or may encounter in the future. He emphasized that there is a deliberate choice to allocate funds towards enhancing military capabilities, even amidst an ailing economy.
During the defense ministry’s Thursday press conference, Wu responded to Aquilino’s comments by stating that the PLA has always maintained a fighting posture of “being always ready” when it comes to defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to the spokesperson, there is no cause for concern regarding a potential war between China and Taiwan, as long as China’s neighboring country refrains from pursuing Taiwan’s independence.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden took a significant step by signing into law a bill that allocates a substantial $95 billion in aid to several nations. This assistance includes support for Ukraine, Israel, and Indo-Pacific partners, with a special focus on Taiwan. This move showcases the United States’ commitment to fostering strong partnerships and promoting stability in these regions.
Taiwan and other governments in the region will be provided with $8 billion in security assistance to counter China. Out of this amount, $2 billion will be allocated under the Foreign Military Financing program. Moreover, an additional $1.9 billion will be used to replenish stocks of defensive equipment and services, including training, that the Pentagon supplies to these partners.
Despite the diplomatic recognition shift from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, the United States continues to be the primary provider of arms to Taipei.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. criticized the new legislation, stating that the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, according to a spokesperson from the embassy. (Newsweek)
During his visit to Beijing this week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the significance of maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait in his meetings with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and President Xi. The State Department released a statement highlighting Blinken’s emphasis on the importance of this issue.
Blinken emphasized that the United States will uphold its one-China policy. For decades, the U.S. has acknowledged, albeit without full agreement, Beijing’s claim to represent both Taiwan and China.
