Behind the Taiwan issue

[Randy W]

from the SCMP on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/355665009819/posts/10158646130364820/

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The US' health chief is to make the country's highest-level visit to Taiwan in decades, angering China.

Edited January 11, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from the SCMP

 

US deploys nuclear-capable stealth bombers to Indian Ocean airbase

• Three B-2A Spirit bombers sent to Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory for the first time since 2016
• Aircraft’s presence designed to intimidate Beijing as it ramps up its live-fire military exercises

The last time the bombers were deployed to Diego Garcia, which lies about 1,200km (745 miles) south of the Maldives, was four years ago during a period of tension in the South China Sea after an international arbitration tribunal rejected Beijing’s claims to the disputed waters.

 

While the three bombers, with the call signs Reaper 11, 12 and 13, did not pass over sensitive areas of the western Pacific, South China Sea or Taiwan Strait, their presence on Diego Garcia is a clear sign of the United States’ military strength in the Indo-Pacific, observers said.

 

 

[Randy W]

Hu Says, from the Global Times on Facebook

 

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【#HuSays】The mainland will definitely increase military pressure in response to rising #US-Taiwan relations; once peaceful means fail, the mainland will not fear a military showdown in the #Taiwan Straits: Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin

 

https://www.facebook.com/globaltimesnews/videos/325915921938179/

Edited January 11, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[amberjack1234]

Not good news.

[Randy W]

from the Global Times on Facebook

 

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Reports on Sat. said the #US has formalized the sale of F-16 jets to #Taiwan only 2 days after the #PLA announced drills in Taiwan Straits. This is seen as a further provocation that steps on the red line and raises the risk of confrontations: experts https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1197802.shtml

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/115591005188475/posts/3339795599434650/

Edited January 11, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

to top it all off (as reported by China Uncensored) - from the Global Times

 

Exclusive: US rudely unpacks official furniture ordered by Chinese Mission to UN

 

The US has brutally unpacked a container with 60 pieces of furniture (official supplies) ordered by the Chinese delegation to the United Nations and dismantled the wrappings of 12 pieces, the Global Times learned.

The move seriously violated international practices, and it is expected that China may take reciprocal measures against the US.

 

. . .

 

Following repeated requests from China, the US office in charge of foreign missions finally approved the customs applications of the Chinese delegation. The furniture was delivered to the Chinese Mission to the UN on July 23. It was nearly a month since the Chinese side submitted its application based on the US request. After verification, the container seal was replaced, and the wrappings of 12 goods were torn and affixed with the US inspection tag.

The opening and inspection of official articles of the Chinese diplomatic mission was crude and outrageous, and was clearly inconsistent with international practices, sources said.

Such an act undermines mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US, which deliberately created trouble and obstacles. In accordance with international practice, China has the right to take reciprocal measures.

 

 

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

Taiwan releases video of troops ‘fending off attack from Chinese mainland’

• Any attempt at invasion ‘would have only the effect of triggering the wrath and antipathy of Taiwan’s people’, defence ministry says in statement accompanying footage of training exercise
• Video comes after an increase in political sabre-rattling and military exercises in waters close to the self-ruled island

 

[Randy W]

The Global Times on the new national defense law

New national defense law to protect China’s development interests
By Song Zhongping

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Media outlets from the island of Taiwan have different interpretations of "development interests." When the Chinese mainland released the draft amendment in October, they misinterpreted it as an excuse to wage a war, arguing that the Chinese mainland could "attack Taiwan at any time."

In fact, the Chinese mainland does not need to care about the comments of the Taiwan media outlets or what Taiwan secessionists think. Both the national defense law and the potential national unification law are designed to safeguard China's national sovereignty, security and development interests. This is bound to involve the Taiwan question. If the Taiwan question remains unresolved and the island continues to be manipulated by the West, it will impair China's development interests and thus lead the two sides of across the Straits into huge internal friction. This will greatly hamper the development of Chinese mainland as a whole. Therefore, solving the Taiwan question is key to safeguarding national interests.

The foreign media are also paying more attention to the statement that "China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature," which is added in Article 6. Such a statement is completely justified. It means that China will not take the initiative to invade any other country, nor will it engage in expansion. China is merely safeguarding its sovereignty and territory. It will not infringe upon an inch of territory that belongs to any other country. 

However, when it comes to development interests and safeguarding China's territorial interests, we have to do something to make our military stronger. This is not only about protecting our territorial and maritime interests, but also our interests overseas.

 

 

[Randy W]

from the Global Times

Pompeo may toll the knell for Taiwan authorities: Global Times editorial

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The US announced that its ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will visit Taiwan this week. It cannot be ruled out that this is a test of Beijing's response by Pompeo's team. Beijing should send a strong signal to the US side, warning them to stop their provocations. Beijing should let the US and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in the island of Taiwan know that if they dare to stage a Pompeo visit to Taiwan before the end of the US secretary of state's tenure, Beijing's strong counteractions will fall like an avalanche upon them. The Chinese People's Liberation Army fighters will fly over the island of Taiwan immediately, declaring Beijing's sovereignty over the island in an unprecedented way. If the US and the island of Taiwan dare to overreact, war will be sparked. China will punish the Taiwan authorities which cooperate with Pompeo's final show of madness.  

Beijing needs to send a stern warning to the Taiwan authorities that the days before January 20 are the last days of the current US administration. Those on the island of Taiwan must not take for granted that they can seek secession with the help of the last-ditch madness of an administration abandoned by the Americans. On the contrary, such madness is very likely to bring them annihilation.

 

https://www.facebook.com/115591005188475/posts/3754313774649495/

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【Editorial】Those on the island of Taiwan must not take for granted that they can seek secession with the help of the last-ditch madness of an administration abandoned by the Americans. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1212378.shtml

[Randy W]

the Global Times weighs in on US politics

China effectively deters US attempt to endanger Taiwan Strait situation

• Trump, Pompeo thwarted in latest effort to jeopardize China-US ties: expert

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At the very last moment of the Trump administration, officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and some diplomats in his Department of State have found that they were unwelcome abroad, whether in Taiwan or Europe, so they have lost their only remaining capability to make trouble for the incoming Biden administration, said Chinese experts.

The US state department said on Tuesday US time that it had cancelled all of its travel for the final eight days of the outgoing administration, including US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft’s planned trip to the island of Taiwan. The trip, which Taiwan’s secessionist authority had placed great hopes upon, has been rearranged into a videoconference between Craft and Tsai Ing-wen, the regional leader of the island. 

 

 

[Randy W]

from Al-Jazeera
US support for Taiwan ‘rock-solid’ after China sends warplanes

Washington pledges to deepen ties with Taiwan after China sends large number of warplanes into island’s airspace.

A Taiwanese soldier waves a Taiwan national flag during a military exercise in Hsinchu County, northern Taiwan, on January 19, 2021 [Sam Yeh/AFP]

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“Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region,” it added.

There was no immediate response from China.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said China sent eight bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons and four fighter jets into airspace just southwest of the island, part of a long-standing pattern of Chinese incursions aimed at pressuring the government of President Tsai Ing-wen into caving to Beijing’s demand that she recognise Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory.

The latest Chinese overflight came on the heels of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, emphasising the island’s enduring position in the panoply of divisive issues between the sides that also include human rights, trade disputes and, most recently, questions about China’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden’s administration has shown little sign of reducing pressure on China over such issues, although it is seen as favouring a return to more civil dialogue.

 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 . . . and the NY Times version

China Sends Warplanes to Taiwan Strait in a Show of Force to Biden

The exercises, which included 13 warplanes on Saturday and 15 on Sunday, were the biggest so far this year and the first under the new U.S. administration.

A Chinese anti-submarine military plane flying in the Taiwan Strait in November. Such drills have become common in recent years.Credit...Taiwan Defense Ministry, via Epa

 

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“I think it’s a mistake to assume that everything is a signal,” he said. “But certainly the operation is both militarily expedient in terms of training and experience but also a very useful political signal to not only Taiwan but of course the new Biden administration.”

The Trump administration took a series of steps to elevate the United States’ relationship with Taiwan, sending high-level officials and approving weapons sales. Days before leaving office, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted rules that restricted contacts between American and Taiwan officials.

 . . .

But incoming officials have said that the United States would maintain a tough stance toward China while showing support for Taiwan. Antony J. Blinken, Mr. Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, told a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that he agreed with some of the Trump administration’s views on China but not necessarily its tactics and would work more closely with American allies.

Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States, Bi-khim Hsiao, was invited to attend Mr. Biden’s inauguration, the first such time a representative from Taiwan was asked to attend since 1979.

 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

from the South China Morning Post on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/355665009819/videos/244092674072553

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US delegation’s Taiwan visit angers Beijing

A US delegation is visiting Taiwan, as Beijing warns of military action against the self-ruled island.

 

[Randy W]

The Global Times does an extensive tap-dancing routine around the "question" of Taiwan with Japan

Japan’s slippery Taiwan tricks will not work

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Now, Japan is using Taiwan as a bargaining chip to constantly test China's bottom line and serve its own geopolitical interests. This is a provocative act. Yet the Japanese government still dare not completely abandon the one-China policy, because that may directly lead to Beijing's termination of diplomatic ties with Tokyo.

In recent years, Japan and some Western countries have strengthened their sense of identity with the island of Taiwan. This is not only reflected in the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in Taiwan's political system and economy. For example, the Chinese mainland banned pineapples from Taiwan on March 1 because quarantine pests among pineapples from the island were found. Japan later ordered 6,200 tons of Taiwan-grown pineapples.

This mutual sense of identity between Japanese people and people in Taiwan is because of the public opinion of the Japanese government and media - as well as some Japanese politicians' acts. They have instigated the Japanese people and media to smear the Chinese mainland on Xinjiang and Hong Kong affairs. They are trying to use these questions to show that Taiwan island is different from the mainland in terms of the so-called democratic system.

 

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

China has urged the United States to stop all provocative acts on the #Taiwan issue and warned that "whoever plays with fire will burn himself," Wu Qian, defense ministry spokesperson, said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

U.S. lawmakers recently pushed through Taiwan-related legislation, made controversial comments about the Taiwan question and a U.S. military transport aircraft landed in the Taiwan region on July 15.

from CGTN on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaGlobalTVNetwork/posts/6684999554874141