BEIJING – After the tensions betwee China and US escalate over the Taiwanissue Chinese state-run newspaper said on Thursday China should prepare formilitary action over self-ruled Taiwan.
Beijing was infuriated after US President Donald Trump signed legislationlast week that encourages the United States to send senior officials toTaiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong said in Taipei onWednesday the United States’ commitment to Taiwan has never been strongerand the island is an inspiration to the rest of the Indo-Pacific region.
China claims Taiwan as its own and considers the self-ruled island awayward province, which Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday wouldface the “punishment of history” for any attempt at separatism.
The Global Times said in an editorial China had to “strike back” againstthe law.
“China can pressure the US in other areas of bilateral cooperation: forexample, the Korean Peninsula issue and Iran nuclear issue. China can alsoset itself against the US in international organisations such as the UN,”it said.
“The mainland must also prepare itself for a direct military clash in theTaiwan Straits. It needs to make clear that escalation of US-Taiwanofficial exchanges will bring serious consequences to Taiwan,” said thepaper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’sDaily.
“This newspaper has suggested that the mainland can send military planesand warships across the Taiwan Straits middle line. This can be implementedgradually depending on the cross-Straits situation,” it said.
The island is one of China’s most sensitive issues and a potential militaryflashpoint. Underlining that threat, Taiwan sent ships and an aircraftearlier on Wednesday to shadow a Chinese aircraft carrier group through thenarrow Taiwan Strait, its defence ministry said.
The Global Times said it was a misunderstanding to think that “peacefulunification” would be a harmonious, happy process.
“Sticks matter more than flowers on the path to peaceful reunification,” itsaid.