China declared on Wednesday that it “absolutely will not” renounce the use of force in seeking to bring Taiwan under its control, issuing one of its strongest warnings in recent months amid renewed tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Peng Qing’en, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press briefing in Beijing that while peaceful “reunification” under the “one country, two systems” framework remained China’s preferred path, military options remained on the table.
“We are willing to create ample space for peaceful reunification and will spare no effort to pursue this prospect with the utmost sincerity,” Peng said. “However, we absolutely will not renounce the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures.”
China’s stance contrasts with a series of recent state media commentaries that portrayed a more conciliatory tone, promising that Taiwan’s social system and way of life would be preserved after “reunification.”
The official remarks on Wednesday, however, underscored Beijing’s continued willingness to use coercion to achieve what it considers the restoration of national unity.
Taiwan’s government swiftly rejected Beijing’s comments. In Taipei, National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said China’s model of governance for “patriots” mirrored what was imposed in Hong Kong and Macau, systems he said have “no market” in democratic Taiwan.
“The aim is to belittle Taiwan’s international standing and ‘Hong Kong-ify’ or ‘Macau-ify’ Taiwan, eliminating its sovereignty,” Tsai said. “The Chinese communists have no way to apply the Hong Kong or Macau model to Taiwan.”
Beijing’s renewed emphasis on “one country, two systems” comes ahead of a planned meeting on Thursday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump told reporters he was unsure if the Taiwan issue would be discussed.
China regards Taiwan, which has been self-ruled since 1949 and maintains a vibrant democracy, as part of its territory. It has never renounced the use of military force to achieve unification.
Taiwan, for its part, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists that only the island’s 23 million people can decide their future.
China’s latest warning underscores the growing strategic friction over Taiwan, as the United States continues to strengthen ties with Taipei and regional tensions rise over Beijing’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
