Taiwan tells China it will not continue to allow “provocations”

Taiwan’s defense minister said on Tuesday that the island will not allow “repeated provocations” from China. China’s foreign minister had said that Taiwan was the “first red line” that must not be crossed in relations with the US.

Tensions over Taiwan, which China sees as its own territory, have risen over the past three years as Beijing increases diplomatic and military pressure for the island to accept Chinese sovereignty.

China organized war drills near Taiwan in August in protest against the visit of then-U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen plans to meet current US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States in the coming weeks.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said he was not aware of a planned meeting between Tsai and McCarthy.

“Chinese communists use any reason to send troops,” Chiu said. “But let’s not just say ‘bring it on.’ We will take a peaceful and rational approach.
Despite hoping that this will not happen, the Taiwanese military is prepared to fight,” he added.

“If the Chinese Communists move again, the task of the armed forces is to fight,” Chiu said. “We will not allow repeated provocations against us. We cannot accept this”.

In light of questions from lawmakers, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said it was “inappropriate” to talk about travel arrangements for the president to the US “before there are definite plans”. McCarthy also hasn’t confirmed a meeting with Tsai.

Internal Matter

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said it was “absurd” for US officials to say that Taiwan is not China’s internal affair.

“The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s core interests, the basis of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations,” he said. “The United States has an unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan issue.”

China will continue to work for “peaceful reunification” but reserves the right to take all necessary measures, Qin said.

“No one should ever underestimate the firm will and great ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Taiwan’s government disputes China’s territorial claims, though it has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing, and says only the people of Taiwan can decide its future.

One of the sources told Reuters that if the US meeting goes ahead, likely in April, it does not necessarily rule out McCarthy visiting Taiwan in the future.

Four other sources – including US officials and people with knowledge of the thinking of the US and Taiwanese administrations – said both sides were deeply uneasy that a future visit by McCarthy would severely increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait, at a time when that the island is preparing for its own presidential elections early next year.