Singapore — If Taiwan takes a decisive step towards independence, China will not escape the war and China will not trust the U.S.’s claim that it opposes the course of the island, China’s Defense Minister the day after the Secretary of Defense , Warned on Sunday. Lloyd J. Austin III Beijing has accused it of becoming more and more militant in the suburbs of Taiwan.
Defense Minister Wei Fenghe spoke on the final day of Singapore’s regional security forum, Shangri-La Dialog, in which Mr Austin also participated. In their exchange over the weekend, the two men miniaturely portrayed tensions between Beijing and Washington over the conflict over Asia as a whole, especially Taiwan.
General Wei gave a speech to diplomats, defense officials and security experts at a five-star hotel to achieve peaceful unification with Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing considers to be an autonomous island. He said he was doing everything he could. But he said, “don’t underestimate the determination and capabilities of the Chinese army” to defend its sovereignty claim.
“For unity, the United States fought a war between North and South,” General Wei said. “China is most unwilling to experience such a civil war, but it will categorically shatter its plans for Taiwan independence. If anyone dares to divide Taiwan, we will not hesitate to fight, You will never escape the cost and will fight to the end. “
China has long stated that it will forcibly seize Taiwan as needed, and General Wei’s thoughts on how Xi Jinping and other leaders in Beijing think of the threshold events that justify doing so. The comments left a lot of uncertainty. However, comments from General Wei, Austin and others at the Singapore Conference emphasize that Taiwan remains the most volatile issue between China and the United States and its allies.
Officials and experts are divided on how imminent the military clash over Taiwan is. However, most believe that the PLA, even if it is a difficult and very costly option, is at greater risk as it approaches the accumulation of equipment and skills needed to make the aggression plausible. I am.
“You are hearing more worries about Taiwan, more people are saying that conflict is not a problem, but when.” Nata Shakasam, A former Australian diplomat and now a researcher at the Lowi Institute in Sydney, said in an interview in Singapore. “We are in more dangerous waters. But for China, the ability to initiate a full-scale aggression is only part of the equation. How do you occupy an island of 24 million people?”
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General Wei and Mr Austin met on Friday on regional issues and wars in Ukraine, as well as efforts to strengthen communication between US and Chinese troops and avoid dangerous military misjudgments.
Austin told the forum on Saturday that China is engaged in “provocative and unstable” military operations near Taiwan. He also said that the Biden administration did not support Taiwan’s independence and acknowledged Beijing’s position in Taiwan, but continued to commit to the “one-China” principle, which it did not support.
On Sunday, General Wei, without appointing the United States, showed that Chinese leaders did not believe in such a sense of security.
“A country violates the principles and promises of’One China’on the Taiwan issue,” General Wei said in a speech. “Taiwan’s independence is a dead end and a delusion. Relying on the support of foreigners is unsuccessful. Don’t worry.”
Since the end of formal relations with Taiwan in 1979 and the expansion of diplomatic recognition to China, the United States has continued to sell weapons to the island. U.S. law also requires Washington to be ready to “resist the means of coercion” against Taiwan, leaving the possibility of U.S. military intervention if China attempts to invade. There is.
Austin Said in singapore The United States has promised to “maintain our own ability to resist the use of force or other forms of coercion” that could threaten Taiwan.
Chinese policymakers have accused the Biden administration and its predecessor, President Donald J. Trump, of steadily improving political and military support for Taiwan.
Beijing has expressed special contempt for Taiwan’s current president, Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai Ing-wen rejected China’s preconditions for negotiations on the island’s future. Taiwan’s next presidential election in 2024 could create another flash point. In Taiwan, more and more people are rejecting the idea of being culturally and historically part of China, with the overwhelming majority saying they do not accept Beijing’s unified framework.
“We defend the hard-earned democracy,” Taiwan’s diplomatic ministry said. Said on saturdayIn response to General Wei’s previous statement that the PLA “shatters” Taiwan’s willingness to independence. “History shows that the appeasement policy only leads to aggression,” the ministry said.
In his speech on Saturday, Austin blamed China for current tensions over Taiwan, citing “a surprising increase in the number of unsafe air interceptions and maritime conflicts” by PLA planes and ships. “Especially betting in the Taiwan Strait is tough” Austin said..
After Sunday’s speech, General Wei appeared to be working more reconciled by meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marls, an American ally with unstable relations with China. Mr Mars told reporters that the meeting with General Wei, the first ministerial meeting in more than two years, lasted for more than an hour.
“It was an important first step,” Marls said. “We do not underestimate the difficulties we face in bilateral relations.”
In his speech, General Wei stated that Washington’s treatment of China as an adversary was a “historical and strategic mistake.” He called on the United States to “stop attacking and injuring China” and “stop interfering with China’s internal affairs.” Unless he does, the bond will not improve, he added.
“If you want to face off, fight to the end,” he said.