Chinese authorities said today that no matter who is in power in Taiwan, where new President Lai Ching-te has taken office, it does not change the fact that the island is part of China.
“Regardless of the development of the internal political situation in Taiwan, it will in no way change the historical and legal fact that the two shores of the strait belong to one and the same China,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Weng Wenbin.
China considers the island – with 23 million inhabitants and which has an autonomous government – part of its own territory, which it intends to bring back under its control, if necessary by force.
Beijing also warned today that efforts to establish Taiwan’s independence will end – in a dead end.
“Taiwan’s independence is at a dead end,” Wang Wenbin said.
“No matter in what form and under what flag, Taiwan’s quest for independence and secession are doomed,” the spokesman said, adding that the day of “complete unification of China” will certainly come.
Wang condemned “some politicians of a small number of countries” for, he said, resorting to “political manipulations on the Taiwan issue and meddling in China’s internal politics.”
“China strongly condemns such practices and will take necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te was sworn in this morning and pledged to continue the status quo, a balance that preserves Taiwan’s sovereignty, without a formal declaration of independence.
Beijing has previously described Lai as a “dangerous separatist” for his statements in support of Taiwan independence, although he has since toned down his rhetoric. In his inaugural speech, Lai also called on China to “stop political and military intimidation” of Taiwan.
He thanked the people of Taiwan for resisting “external forces and resolutely defending democracy” and pointed out that “the glorious era of Taiwan’s democracy has arrived.”
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned this inaugural speech, saying it “sends a dangerous signal” and called it a provocation aimed at undermining stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Lai ignored “public expectations in favor of peace and development,” a spokesman for the office said, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
