Taiwan independence amounts to war declaration: China's PLA
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A Chinese army spokesperson warns that the People's Liberation Army will "never allow" Taiwan to "break away from China".
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Soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy march in formation during a parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, October 1, 2019. (AP)
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will not tolerate Taiwan seeking independence from China. Such action amounts to a declaration of war, the deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission said on Saturday.
"The PLA will never allow Taiwan to break away from China, Taiwan's independence is tantamount to war," Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng said on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Jing confirmed that the PLA will continue preparations in case of war and the promotion of reunification. It will also resolutely resist any foreign interference and will carry out its duties to protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Read more: China drops 'peaceful reunification' with Taiwan, boosts mil. budget
'US destroyer of peace'
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin held on Saturday a face-to-face meeting in Singapore.
In an address after the discussions, Austin said that the United States helped make "historic progress" in the Indo-Pacific in the past three years, hailing the establishment of the "new convergence in the region."
"We’ve strengthened stability on the Korean Peninsula. We’ve supported the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. And we’ve stood up for the rule of law in the South China Sea,” he said.
Read more: Chinese reunification with Taiwan to devastate US, Commerce Sec. says
In response, Jing slammed Austin's claims, stressing that the US is "creating division and provoking confrontation," and that it "keeps creating chaos and has become the source of risks, as well as the destroyer to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."
Safeguarding national sovereignty
On Thursday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense warned of an armed conflict that might erupt due to Taiwan's actions.
"China's national reunification is an overriding historical trend and an unstoppable course. 'Taiwan independence' means war, and division brings no peace," Senior Colonel Wu Qian told reporters commenting on the "inaugural speech" of Lai Ching-te, the newly elected president of the island.
"Lai Ching-te's address, full of deception to Taiwan compatriots, hostility against the Chinese mainland's people, flattery to his 'foreign master' and delusion for 'seeking independence by force', is a confession of his attempt to solicit external support and use force for 'Taiwan independence'," said the spokesperson, adding that the PLA firmly opposed that and responded with strong countermeasures.
"Shouldering the sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese PLA is fully prepared and stays highly vigilant. We will take resolute actions to smash any 'Taiwan independence' separatist attempts and thwart any foreign interference," Wu concluded.
China launched two-day military drills around the island earlier this week, just three days following Lai's first address.
The large drills involved land, naval, air, and missile forces and aimed to assess combat readiness.
"With each provocation of the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, countermeasures will advance one step further until the complete reunification of the motherland is realized," Wu stated then.
