China Has Vowed To “Crush” Taiwan’s Independence After Taiwan’s President Said It Is An Independent Country
Spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan has never been a country and "absolutely will not be one in the future".
China has vowed to “crush” Taiwan’s independence after Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te said his country is “a sovereign, independent nation.”
Taiwan has governed itself separately from mainland China since 1949, but China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to reunify with the island, by force if necessary.
On Tuesday, May 12, Lai addressed the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video, saying Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation and that no attempt to isolate Taiwan would change its determination to participate in the international community.
He also accused China of obstructing his flight to Eswatini, Taiwan's only African ally, in April, calling it evidence that authoritarian regimes are willing to undermine aviation safety for political leverage.
On Wednesday, May 13, a spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said during a press briefing that China's resolve to oppose Taiwan independence was "as firm as a rock" and its ability to “crush Taiwan independence is unbreakable.”
She said Taiwan has never been a country and "absolutely will not be one in the future," calling Lai's statements that "a thousand repetitions cannot make true."
China's foreign ministry also condemned the Copenhagen Democracy Summit itself, saying it was "filled with ideological biases" and that inviting Lai to speak was "a severe violation of the one-China principle."
China's threats towards Taiwan came just hours ahead of US president Donald Trump's arrival in Beijing for a summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping, where they are expected to discuss the future of Taiwan.
Trump confirmed he would discuss American arms sales to Taiwan directly with Xi at the summit.
China has increased its military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, regularly sending warships and fighter jets near the island and carrying out large-scale military drills simulating blockades and attacks.
Taiwan’s government has repeatedly rejected Beijing’s claims over the country and said only the island’s 23 million people can decide Taiwan’s future.
Cherry Mohamed
Flavie Chen
Kassy Cho
