The conflict between the island state of Taiwan and China is coming to a head again. After large-scale military maneuvers off the island state, the People’s Republic is apparently preparing for war, according to Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. “If you look at the military exercises and their rhetoric, they seem to be trying to prepare for a war against Taiwan,” Wu said in an interview with US broadcaster CNN.
Tensions were last high after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States, where she met, among others, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. China, which continues to see the island state as part of the People’s Republic, viewed Tsai’s trip as an undisguised provocation. The reaction was not long in coming: Beijing called the People’s Liberation Army for major maneuvers. A similar diplomatic test had already taken place last year when McCarthy’s Democratic predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, paid a visit to Taiwan and promised on behalf of her country that the US would “always stand by Taiwan” and not give up its “commitments to Taiwan “.
“China cannot dictate how Taiwan treats friends. And China cannot dictate how Taiwan’s friends show their support,” Wu told CNN. Tsai also criticized Beijing. The exercises are “not a responsible attitude of a big country”. Although the Chinese maneuvers officially ended on Monday, Taiwan’s military sighted dozens of Chinese planes and warships on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, the United States and the Philippines started their largest joint military exercises to date – with a total of more than 17,000 soldiers. The annual Balikatan maneuver (roughly translated: shoulder to shoulder) is primarily about sea and coastal defense.
The US remains Taiwan’s most important ally. However, there is no formal military alliance. According to its doctrine of “strategic ambiguity,” Washington leaves open what US aid would look like if the worst came to the worst. However, US President Joe Biden made a clear commitment last year to support Taiwan in the event of a defense. Shortly thereafter, however, his employees rowed back.
The US could intervene in a variety of ways if China attacks the island nation, Wu told CNN. But what has been made clear again and again: “Defending Taiwan is our own responsibility”. However, Wu added, the US is “more engaged than ever” in showing China the dire consequences of such an attack. The CNN presenter wanted to know whether, from a Taiwanese point of view, the question is no longer “if” but “when” when it comes to an attempted invasion of China. Although Beijing is capable of a lot, said Wu. In principle, the People’s Republic does not shy away from the use of military force. “Sometimes they want to smash their enemy without actually using violence”.
As recently as January, a senior US general expressed his concern that war could break out between the US and China in the near future. “I hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling we’ll be fighting in 2025,” Air Force Gen. Michael Minihan said in an internal memo. He made no secret of what he believed to be the future reason for the war: China’s ambitions towards Taiwan. A little later, CIA Director William Burns warned that China’s President Xi Jinping had ordered his military to at least prepare for an invasion of the small neighboring state by 2027.
For Wu, of course, the timing makes no difference: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s 2025, 2027 or even later: Taiwan has to prepare for it,” said the foreign minister of the independent Republic of China.
Sources: CNN; DPA
