China has warned the United States that any attempt to separate the independent country of Taiwan from China would provoke military action by Chinese forces.
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fengke meets for the first time with US Prime Minister Lloyd Austin at the Asian Defense Summit in Singapore.
Wei said separating Taiwan from China was the only option for the Chinese military “to fight at any cost.”
Austin later described the Chinese military operation as “provocative and unstable”.
The US Secretary of State considered that the daily number of Chinese flights flying near the island was “undermining peace and stability in the region”.
One position that led the Chinese defense minister to condemn the US arms sale to Taiwan is that China views self-governing Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory.
“If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has no choice but to fight at any cost and crush any attempt for ‘Taiwan independence’ and defend (China’s) national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a spokesman was quoted as saying. Said.
Austin said the United States was committed to maintaining the status quo by recognizing Beijing as China’s sole government and opposing Taiwan’s independence.
He stressed that no attempt should be made to resolve the tension using force.
The first meeting between the US and Chinese defense ministers at the Defense Summit, entitled “The Shangri-La Dialogue,” lasted about an hour.
Wei said the talks “went smoothly” and both sides described them as good.
Austin spoke of the importance of keeping relations with the Chinese military fully open, in order to avoid any misunderstandings between the two sides.
Taiwan said in late May that it had deployed fighter jets to alert 30 aircraft sent by China into its air defense zone. The incident reflects the largest Chinese incursion since last January.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said the crash involved 22 Taiwanese warplanes, electronic warheads, early warning systems and an anti-submarine aircraft.
China and Taiwan: Basic Facts
Why the bad relationship between China and Taiwan?
China and Taiwan were separated during the civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists on forcibly reclaiming the island at some point if necessary.
How is Taiwan governed?
The island has its own constitution, and its leaders are democratically elected. Its Armed Forces has 300,000 soldiers in service.
Who recognizes Taiwan?
Only a few countries recognize Taiwan. Instead, the majority of countries recognize the Chinese government in Beijing. The United States does not have formal relations with Taiwan, but has a law that requires it to provide the island with means of self-defense.
“Creator. Award-winning problem solver. Music evangelist. Incurable introvert.”