A delicate balancing act, a chess game played on the edge of tension. There China returns to reiterate his position on Taiwan: reunification is an indispensable objective, to be pursued even by force if necessary. But the island, thanks to international support, relaunches: “The world is with us“. Beijing’s latest move came with the military exercises “Joint Sword 2024/B” held on October 14, a large-scale show of force that saw the Chinese military surround Taiwan with an air-naval blockade. A clear warning to the “separatist acts” of Taipei, accused of pursuing independence.
And today the island’s government reported one new incursion of Chinese planes and warships in its vicinity: the Ministry of Defense of Taipei has detected the presence of 22 planes and 5 Beijing military ships around the island in the last 24 hours. Of these, 13 jets crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering the Taiwanese air defense identification zone. The Taipei army has carefully monitored the situation, preparing an appropriate response to the evolution of Chinese actions.
The spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Beijing government, Chen Binhua, clarified that Beijing is willing to commit itself with “utmost sincerity” to a peaceful reunification, but does not exclude the military option against interference from “external forces ” and the “small minority of separatists” in Taiwan. “Our posture is mainly directed against foreign interference and a small number of separatists,” Chen said at a briefing in the Chinese capital, adding that most Taiwanese do not support independence. For China, Taiwan remains an “inalienable” party of its territory, which will be reunified, if necessary, even by force.
“We are willing to commit ourselves to peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity,” said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Beijing government’s Taiwan Affairs Office. “But We will never commit to giving up the use of force.”. A position firmly reiterated, which points the finger at “external interference” and the “small minority of separatists” who, according to Beijing, do not represent the will of the majority of Taiwanese.
Taiwan, however, does not allow itself to be intimidated: “The military maneuvers backfired on China“said Tsai Ming-yen, director general of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau. “International condemnation, particularly from Washington, has made the international community more favorable to Taiwan“. According to Tsai, the international impact of the maneuvers has strengthened support for Taiwan, with unanimous condemnation, particularly from the United States. The island, which considers itself de facto independent, therefore reiterates its right to self-determination: “Only the population can decide its future”, states the Taipei government.
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei exploded again following statements by Taiwanese President William Lai, during the National Day celebrations on October 10, in which he reiterated the right of the Taiwanese people to decide their own future.
