China threatens to crush
China warned on Wednesday that it will "crush" any foreign attempt to interfere in the Taiwan issue, following Japan's announcement of plans to deploy missile systems on an island close to democratically governed Taiwan.
"We have unwavering will, strong determination, and the powerful capability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the spokesperson for China's ministry for relations with Taiwan, Peng Qingen, during a regular press conference, responding to a question about the planned deployment.
Harsh rhetoric
"We will crush any foreign interference," he said, adding, "We will smash any foreign involvement."
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its own territory and has not ruled out the use of military force to bring it under its control. The island's government rejects the Chinese claim of sovereignty, emphasizing that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their future.
Missiles from Japan
"The deployment of offensive weapons by Japan in areas adjacent to China's Taiwan is extremely dangerous. It constitutes a deliberate attempt to create tensions, as well as a provocation for military confrontation," Peng stated, accusing Tokyo of fanning the flames and pushing the region one step closer to a military clash.
Cry of distress from Taiwan
At the same time, Taiwan is moving to approve a supplementary defense budget of $1.25 trillion Taiwan dollars (approximately $40 billion), as Beijing accelerates its military preparations around the island, as stated by the country's president, Lai Ching-te.
Lai mentioned that China has intensified military exercises and so-called "gray zone harassment" around Taiwan, with the ultimate goal—as he estimates—of taking the island by force by 2027. The statement comes amid recent diplomatic tension between China and Japan over the issue of Taiwan.
Lai also warned that Beijing has stepped up "infiltration and influence campaigns" on the island, utilizing a range of tools aimed at meddling in Taiwan's political and social life, influencing public opinion, and undermining its democracy. At the same time, he spoke of an "unprecedented military build-up" by China, accompanied by increasingly intense provocations in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the East and South China Seas and across the entire Indo-Pacific region.
Beijing considers the democratically governed Taiwan part of its territory, while President Xi Jinping has characterized reunification with the mainland as "historically inevitable." Taiwan rejects these claims.
In recent years, China has increased pressure on Taipei, conducting repeated military exercises near the island and strictly warning against "pro-independence provocations." Lai pledged that Taiwan will strengthen its self-defense capabilities, seeking to achieve a high level of military readiness by 2027, in the face of growing threats from Beijing.
Escalation of tension
Diplomatic tension between China and Japan is escalating, with Beijing accusing Tokyo of interfering in its internal affairs, following statements by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who mentioned that any potential use of military force in Taiwan could be considered a "situation threatening the survival" of Japan. Beijing labeled the statements as "outrageous" and demanded their retraction.
US President Donald Trump had separate telephone conversations on the same day with Xi and Takaichi. Analysts estimate that Xi likely sought to pressure Trump to moderate Japan's positions on the Strait issues.
Shortly before Lai's speech, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China reiterated in a press conference that Beijing "firmly opposes any attempt to support Taiwan's independence," accusing Lai's Democratic Progressive Party of undermining the island's development prospects.
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