BEIJING: The war over Taiwan is with Chinese forces conducting military drills around the island and could escalate further, China has warned.
On the second day of exercises, warships as well as fighter jets encircled Taiwan while having a test on its ability to seize the island according to Beijing’s announcement days after the inauguration of its new president.
China launched two-day-long war games on Thursday morning, which saw democratic Taiwan being surrounded with naval vessels and military aircraft in readiness for “the blood of independence forces” to flow on the island.
These took place three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn into office who made an inaugural speech that Beijing labeled a “confession of independence.”
Wu Qian, a spokesperson from Beijing’s defense ministry said Lai’s actions are such that “has seriously challenged the one-China principle… pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger”.
Others posed for photographs in front of a sign that said, “The closest distance between the motherland and Taiwan island”, which was 68 nautical miles (126 kilometers) away.
“We share common roots,” said Chen Yan, a 60-year-old woman from Wuhan to AFP when discussing about Taiwan.
“So I think there will definitely be unification,” she added.
‘Heads broken’
China has repeatedly described Lai as a “dangerous separatist” who would bring “war and decline” to the Island.
Lai on Thursday made an address during which he pledged not only to stand but also fight in the frontline for Taiwan without directly mentioning drills.
His inaugural speech on Monday infuriated Beijing where he called it a “glorious era” for democracy in Taiwan.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin issued a warning yesterday that sounded more like China’s propaganda outlets than diplomatic speak.
“Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against the great… trend of China achieving complete unification,” remarked Wang while addressing journalists.
Beijing’s Xinhua news agency and ruling party organ the People’s Daily ran editorials hailing the drills on Friday, while slamming Lai’s “treacherous behaviour” and promising a “severe blow”.
They are being conducted right now in the area around Kinmen Matsu Wuqiu Dongyin islands under Taipei administration; strait of Formosa along with areas south north east towards Taiwanese mainland, off its coasts including around those aforementioned islets above mentioned, plus other locations outside or opposite such administrative zones; even this place itself has landmarks so far built by Japanese colonialists using materials sourced therefrom before these were later rebuilt into metro ones having high technology subway systems serving local communities globally operating trains among nearby territories;
According to Beijing last month they would finish today however analysts point out there might be prolongation of military exercises or missile attacks towards Taiwan like those which followed Nancy Pelosi’s trip there in 2022 while she was still Speaker US House Representatives.
The Chinese military has approached to within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s main island, says the Taiwanese Defense Ministry in Taipei.
On Friday, its coast guard said that four Chinese vessels entered “restricted waters” near two Taiwanese islands with two other vessels nearby providing support.
