Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin held a meeting in Singapore, where they are for the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit. According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Defense, Wei told Austin that China “would not hesitate to start a war” if Taiwan declared independence. Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, stated that Wei warned that “If someone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will certainly not hesitate to start a war, no matter the cost.”
China considers Taiwan, which is an island separate from the mainland and has de facto administration, as its own territory, and constantly states that it will one day invade the island by using force when it deems necessary.
According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Defense, Defense Minister Wei also said that any “Taiwan independence plot will crumble into pieces and will resolutely defend the unity of the homeland”.
USA: We are against changing the status quo unilaterally
In a statement regarding the meeting, the US Department of Defense said that “Austin reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and their opposition to unilaterally changing the status quo, and urged China to refrain from continuing destabilizing actions against Taiwan.”
Tensions over Taiwan, which has a dispute over its political status, have increased recently, with Chinese planes entering and leaving the island’s air defense zone. During a visit to Japan last month, US President Joe Biden stated that they would defend Taiwan militarily if China attacked, which would mean a change in the Taiwan policy that the US has been pursuing for years.
After this statement, the White House turned to its policy of “strategic uncertainty” on Taiwan, which left it unclear whether China would interfere if it intervened.
At the summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida drew attention to the China-Taiwan tension and made a strong warning and said, “The present of Ukraine can be the future of East Asia.”
AFP/EC, SSB