China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, today (Thursday), issued a stark warning to other countries against interfering in the dispute between Beijing and Taiwan, according to the German News Agency.
During a press conference on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, which is held annually, Wang stated that those who support Taiwan’s independence “will burn themselves by playing with fire and will taste the bitter fruit of their actions.”
Wang added, “We will never allow Taiwan to separate from the motherland.”
The Chinese Foreign Minister described the recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Taiwan, held in mid-January, as “merely local elections in a region of China. The result will not change even the simplest fact that Taiwan is part of China.”
It should be noted that the ruling Communist Party in Beijing considers Taiwan Chinese territory, despite the island, with a population of over 23 million, having an independent government since 1949.
Wang said, “Certain countries that insist on maintaining official relations with Taiwan are thereby interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
It is worth mentioning that the island’s most significant ally is the United States. America is legally obligated to support Taiwan’s defense capabilities according to the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which marks its 45th anniversary this year.
The situation in the Taiwan Strait is tense, with China frequently showcasing its military capabilities there.
The tensions between China and Taiwan have historical roots, with Beijing considering Taiwan a part of its sovereign territory. This view is tied to the events of the 19th century when Taiwan was ceded to Japan and later became a Japanese colony for about 50 years. The separation of Taiwan from China is viewed by Beijing as a result of the Chinese Civil War, with the nationalists retreating to Taiwan after the communists won on the mainland. This unresolved civil conflict underpins China’s claim over Taiwan.
Recent years have seen an increase in military actions by China near Taiwan, including flying military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. These actions, especially when seen in higher frequencies and with different equipment, are viewed as more threatening than before and signify China’s impatience and assertiveness regarding the unification issue.
In 2022, tensions escalated notably when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, defying Chinese warnings. China responded with military war games near Taiwan, launching missiles over Taipei, and conducting a blockade-like operation around the island, marking one of the highest points of military tension between the two sides since 1996. China views Taiwan’s current leadership as separatist for refusing to acknowledge the “one China” principle. The Taiwanese government, on the other hand, maintains that it has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China, and therefore Beijing’s sovereignty claims are invalid. Taiwan i
