
Taiwan Accuses China of Aggressive Strategy to Alter Status Quo
Last Updated on May 30, 2024 1:59 pm
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung sounded the alarm on Thursday over what he described as China’s persistent efforts to “nibble away” at Taiwan’s autonomy and create a new normal through military drills and diplomatic pressure. These actions, he asserted, are not only a threat to Taiwan but pose a significant concern for global stability.
Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a “separatist,” China conducted two days of intensive war games around the island. Although these exercises have formally concluded, Chinese military activities persist, with Taiwan reporting joint combat readiness patrols by Chinese warplanes and warships as recently as Wednesday.
“The Chinese communists’ pressure on Taiwan is all-encompassing, especially diplomatically,” Lin remarked to reporters before addressing lawmakers in parliament. He highlighted the significant obstacles Taiwan faces in participating in international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, from which it was recently excluded due to Chinese pressure.
China’s aggressive stance includes unilateral moves like opening new air routes near Taiwan-controlled islands and dispatching coast guard ships to Taiwan’s east coast during the recent exercises. “The Chinese communists are continuing to change the status quo,” Lin stated. “They are creating a new normal, pressing on at every stage, trying to nibble away and annex us.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated its stance, condemning Lai as a proponent of formal independence and promising continued military activities. Despite Lai’s repeated offers for dialogue, Beijing has remained unresponsive, maintaining that Taiwan’s status is an internal matter and non-negotiable.
The situation has broader implications beyond the Taiwan Strait, Lin emphasized. “The cross-strait issue is not only about the strait; it’s a regional, or even global matter,” he said, underscoring the potential for wider instability resulting from China’s actions.
The government in Taipei asserts that Taiwan is already an independent country, operating under the name Republic of China. This assertion dates back to 1949 when the Republican government retreated to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong’s communists, who established the People’s Republic of China.
As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, with Taiwan’s plea for global attention and support growing ever more urgent amidst China’s relentless pressure.