The defense minister of the People’s Republic of China Wei Fenghe has warned the U.S. over its consistent support for the Taiwanese secession attempts.
During his five-day visit to Singapore for the Shangri-la regional security forum, Defense Minister Fenghe made clear the consequences of a possible US backed Taiwanese independence endeavor. Chinese Defense Spokesperson Wu Qian took to the stage and stated, “if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chine military will fight at all costs to smash any secessionist attempt and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
As reported by DW News’ Lauren Baker, the warning came shortly after a meeting between Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The dialogue exchanged during that meeting has not been made public. Tensions between the two superpowers have mounted in recent months over the small democratic island. Washington is displeased with Beijing’s frequent intrusion into the self-governing Taiwanese air defense zone.
Defense Secretary Austin affirmed in regards to the territorial dilemma that, “we’ve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan and we remain focused on maintaining peace, stability, and the status quo across the Taiwan strait, but the PRC’s move threaten to undermine security and stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” U.S. President Joe Biden also stated last month that should China attack Taiwan, Washington will be ready to defend its ally.
Since Biden’s threat of U.S. intervention, the western power has backtracked its claims and instead began exercising a policy called “strategic ambiguity.” This new policy is an undefined stance the US has taken to prevent from explicitly announcing whether it would aid Taiwan against the Chinese with force or only with military equipment.
Whether the strategic ambiguity would work long term is unknown like all else, but Beijing’s stagnation on how to militarily approach the internal independence movements, as a result of a potential U.S. interference is preventing a war thus far.
President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan briefly addressed the situation at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on June 10 stating, “despite growing threats, Taiwan, like Ukraine, will not bend to pressure, and expressed our determination to defend our country and our democratic way of life.”
Though there is no formal military alliance between Taiwan and the U.S, the two polities are informally affiliated due to their economic and political relations. Similar to Ukraine, a Chinese declaration of war would put many nations in a decision making predicament. No country is obliged to aid Taiwan with on-ground military operations, but as a democracy, the U.S. is expanding its political sphere in the Indo-Pacific, to counter the communist country of the PRC.
This is very interesting and easy to digest! Good job!