China’s latest drills highlight key strategy to annex Taiwan: Blockade – CSMonitor.com
Beijing warned Tokyo that any Japanese military role in the Taiwan Strait would count as an act of aggression. The Chinese foreign ministry delivered this statement on Thursday. The warning followed Japan’s recent debate on its security posture.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said last week that a conflict near Taiwan could create a survival threat for Japan. Her comment drew a quick protest from China. She later said the point was only a hypothetical case but did not retract it.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Japan would face a firm response if it used force in the Taiwan Strait. He said China would act under the rights stated in the UN Charter and international law. He stressed that Beijing will defend its sovereignty and territory.
China views Taiwan as part of its state. Japan and the United States do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. Washington opposes any attempt to take the island by force and provides arms to Taipei.
Japan’s 2015 security law allows the use of its self-defence forces when an attack on an ally threatens Japan’s survival. Takaichi had linked this rule to a possible clash near Taiwan.
Lin said Japan must correct its stance and withdraw what he called hostile remarks. He recalled Japan’s wartime actions and said similar claims in the past had led to aggression across Asia. Lin asked why Takaichi raised the crisis idea again and questioned her intent.
This year marks 80 years since China’s victory in World War II and Japan’s loss of control over Taiwan. Lin said no foreign state should interfere in the Taiwan issue. He said such action would provoke China and damage ties between the two states.
He closed with a warning. He said any state that plays with fire on the Taiwan question will get burned.
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