Large-scale military exercises, encirclement of the island and firing with live ammunition, the climate becomes more tense every day around the island of Taiwan, heckled by Beijing on the pretext of maintaining bilateral relations with the United States while China considers it under its sovereignty. A day after mock “joint precision strikes” on Taiwan during Chinese military exercises, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu condemned Beijing’s actions in a exclusive interview granted to CNN, and warned that “China seems to be trying to prepare to launch a war against Taiwan.” “If you look at the military exercises and their rhetoric, you get the impression that they are preparing to start a war against Taiwan,” said Joseph Wu.
According to US intelligence reported by CNN, the Chinese military may be ready for military intervention from 2027, as requested by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Chinese leaders will think twice before deciding to use force against Taiwan. And it doesn’t matter if it’s 2025 or 2027 or even beyond, Taiwan just has to prepare,” Joseph Wu explains in his interview.
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Continuation of controversial diplomatic visits
Main subject of China’s anger towards Taiwan, its diplomatic relations with the United States in particular, while the ruling Chinese Communist Party claims the autonomous island as part of its territory. As his power grew, Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his ambitions for “reunification” with the island, by force if necessary, recalls CNN.
Last August, Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, traveled to the island to support her against China. For her part, the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, traveled to the United States at the beginning of April for a visit of several days, where she met the current speaker of the American House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, and other legislators. Beijing then responded with large-scale military exercises, which it describes as “a serious warning against the collusion of Taiwanese separatist forces with external forces, and a necessary measure to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Asked by CNN about the cost of such diplomatic encounters, Joseph Wu said, “China cannot tell Taiwan how it makes friends. And China cannot dictate to our friends how they want to show their support for Taiwan.”
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Emmanuel Macron’s convoluted remarks in China
The Chinese exercises took place in parallel with a state visit by the French president to his counterpart Xi Jinping. After his meeting, Emmanuel Macron seemed to wonder whether France should get involved in the Taiwan crisis, telling reporters that “the worst thing would be to think that we Europeans have to become followers on this subject and adapt at the American pace or an overreaction of China”, explains the American newspaper.
French authorities later said his remarks had been misinterpreted. Joseph Wu told CNN that Taipei had asked France for clarification. “We are still trying to understand what he said and what it means for the French government”, while he “showed his support for Taiwan”.