Beijing’s defense ministry issued an uncommon public statement Friday defending its ongoing military operations near Taiwan, calling them completely justified while blaming Taipei’s government for escalating regional tensions.
The Chinese military routinely deploys naval vessels and aircraft in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan nearly every day, drawing sharp criticism from Taiwan’s leadership. Beijing considers the democratically-run island to be part of Chinese territory.
Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang declared to media that Taiwan represents an “inalienable part of Chinese territory.”
“The People’s Liberation Army organises training and exercise activities in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan island to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is entirely justified, reasonable, and a matter of course,” Zhang stated.
The spokesman accused Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party of misrepresenting Chinese military operations, “peddling war anxiety, intimidating the people on the island, and stoking confrontation and antagonism across the Taiwan Strait.”
Beijing refuses diplomatic engagement with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist.” Lai maintains that only Taiwan’s citizens should determine the island’s destiny.
During an appearance at a military facility in southern Taiwan Friday morning, Lai emphasized that while peace remains everyone’s goal, genuine security requires military strength. He renewed his appeal for the opposition-controlled legislature to approve his stalled $40 billion defense spending package.
“Only through continuous preparedness can we deter threats – by being ready to fight in order to avoid fighting, and by being capable of fighting in order to stop war,” Lai declared.
Washington, which serves as Taiwan’s primary weapons supplier, has endorsed Lai’s military spending initiative.
China has consistently demanded that the United States cease arms sales to Taiwan.
Zhang accused Lai of using Taiwanese taxpayer funds to “pledge loyalty to and curry favour with the United States.”
“What they truly care about is whether they can make more money, and they are not above profiting from war,” he added, referring to American officials.
