China: Taiwan's Independence Means War

Illustration of the Taiwan Strait. (Wikimedia Commons/BreakdownDiode)

JAKARTA - Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesman Wu Qian emphasized Taiwan's independence means war.

"The split does not bring peace," Wu said, referring to Taiwan's separation from mainland China reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Thursday, May 30.

The statement comes after China's large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last week, following the inauguration of William Lai Ching-te as a leader on the island that Beijing deems to belong to.

Wu emphasized that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is fully ready and remain vigilant.

"We will take firm action to destroy separatist efforts of Taiwan's independence and thwart foreign interference," Wu said in response to Lai's presidential speech.

"Taiwan is part of China. How to solve the Taiwan issue is a matter of 1.4 billion Chinese citizens, not something that can be intervened by the US," said Wu.

He condemned the concern expressed by the US State Department over China's military exercises around Taiwan.

Wu criticized the US for "false narratives" about freedom of navigation.

It is the wrong narrative. There is a big difference between navigation and violation, as well as between freedom and will," Wu said.

He reacted to the US Department of Defense's Freedom of Navigation Report for 2023.

"We firmly oppose intentional violations and oppose any country that violates the law in the name of freedom of navigation to harm the sovereignty and security of coastal countries as well as undermine regional peace and stability," Wu said.

The US and its allies routinely cruise warships and fly military aircraft in the disputed South China Sea, as well as in the waters and over the Taiwan Strait, citing freedom of navigation in airspace and international waters.

Beijing opposes such activities and in response they deploy military aircraft and its own warships.