China has responded to a surprise visit to Taiwan by a delegation of bipartisan United States (US) lawmakers last week by warning that a military “showdown” between the two superpowers is becoming inevitable.
During his visit, Senator Bob Menendez referred to Taiwan as a “country of global significance, consequence and impact.” Similarly, the head of the delegation, Republican lawmaker Lindsey Graham, reaffirmed Washington’s support for Taiwan’s sovereignty. “To abandon Taiwan will be to abandon democracy and freedom. There’s a backlash growing in the world to thuggery – to the bad guys.”
Graham also criticised China’s support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and threatened “the never-ending cyberattack” on the Taiwanese economy and by “the Communist Chinese” would “come with a price.” “Here is my promise to you and the Taiwanese people: We are going to start making China pay a greater price for what they are doing all over the world,” he said.
China’s Foreign Ministry reacted by expressing opposition to the “official interaction” by saying it was a violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués.
Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called on the US during his regular press conference on Friday to “stop official exchanges with Taiwan and avoid making irresponsible remarks.” Defending the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) military drills near Taiwan during the lawmakers’ visit, Zhao said the exercises were “a countermeasure” to Washington’s recent “negative actions, including the lawmakers’ visit to Taiwan.” “The Chinese side will continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated.
A welcome banquet was hosted by Minister Wu for the senior congressional delegation led by @LindseyGrahamSC at historic Taipei Guest House. Spirits were high as guests reflected on the enduring #Taiwan🇹🇼-#US🇺🇸 relationship & rock-solid bonds shared by our freedom- & ... (1/2) pic.twitter.com/L5vpoj53zc
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) April 15, 2022
Similarly, Hu Xijin, the former editor of the state-owned media house Global Times, said in a commentary released on Friday that, as the situation in Taiwan deteriorates, it has now become “necessary for the mainland people to accelerate the accumulation of psychological preparations for the showdown of the situation in the Taiwan Strait” because “this preparation is lacking.” “Since the risk of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait is real and is getting higher and higher, it is imperative for the mainland people to be fully informed, which is crucial for the whole society to quickly adapt to the changing situation once the crisis arrives,” Hu said.
“In my view, the situation across the Taiwan Strait is like the calm before the storm; the real tipping point may not be far away,” Hu said about Taiwan. “It’s not about whether the public should feel a sense of urgency; rather, when the country resolves to take decisive action, we must be mentally prepared to face the challenges and uncertainties that lie before us, together with the country in a united way,” he urged.
Hu further warned that the US and Taiwan have “misjudged” China’s resolve, saying their actions have “turned a new page in the showdown” and led to a situation in which “it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid high-intensity confrontation” with the US.
"The situation in the Taiwan Strait is rapidly deteriorating, and we must prepare for a military conflict" - former editor-in-chief of the Party tabloid Global Times, Hu Xijin, reacts to the unannounced visit to Taiwan by six US lawmakers three days ago. Excerpts:
— Tuvia Gering 陶文亚 (@GeringTuvia) April 17, 2022
1/7 pic.twitter.com/j4ouye64BE
In another video posted on GT, Hu said that “China will demonstrate its sovereignty over the island of Taiwan through military means…we will tie a noose around the neck of Taiwan secessionists and gradually tighten it.” Hu described the visit as “another provocation by the US Congress on the Taiwanese issue” that aimed “to pressure and coerce Beijing to go along with US policy on the Ukraine crisis and keep its distance from Russia.” “China will not concede to the US on either the Taiwan issue or its relations with Russia,” he underscored.
In response, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry retorted against Chinese aggression on Friday saying that China’s moves “will only strengthen the Taiwanese people’s will to defend freedom and democracy, and will also attract support for democratic Taiwan from the United States and even more democratic partners.”
Honored to be in #Taiwan where freedom reigns.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 14, 2022
The courageous people of Taiwan 🇹🇼 are great allies of the United States 🇺🇸 and a beacon of freedom in a troubled region. https://t.co/MjzLmJ2jJW
China has regularly exercised its dominance over Taiwan by infringing its land, air, and water boundaries. Beijing has called the infringements “routine” drills, simply aimed at protecting its national sovereignty. However, it has continued to send highly modern and advanced aircraft into Taiwanese airspace.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fear in Taiwan has further risen that China could attempt to take advantage of the fact that international attention and efforts have been somewhat diverted by the Ukraine crisis, and seek to take similar action in Taiwan. In fact, last week, the island issued its first survival handbook to help citizens prepare for a potential Chinese invasion. Additionally, Taiwan’s military strategists have been studying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s resistance in the hopes of formulating their own battle strategy.
Referring to the speculation of a potential Chinese invasion, Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said last month that if a war between Beijing and Taipei did break out, it would be a “miserable victory,” even for the victors.
China, however, has emphasised that the guide, as well as the island’s regular military drills, are “futile” because of the mainland’s “overwhelming capabilities.”