China will take “drastic measures” if Taiwan moves toward formal independence, a Beijing official warned on Wednesday, adding that Taiwan’s provocations and external interference could intensify next year.
China claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has in the past two years increased military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claim, sparking anger in Taipei and concern in Washington.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told a media briefing that China was ready to do its best to seek peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but would act if any red lines on independence were crossed.
“If separatist forces seeking independence in Taiwan incite, force or even break any red line, we will have to take drastic measures,” Ma said.
In a statement late Wednesday, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council urged Beijing to “seriously consider its work towards Taiwan and make the right decisions on the situation”.
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The council reiterated its call for dialogue on an equal basis and said it maintained a policy of “not provoking” to protect peace in the Taiwan Strait and the region.
Taiwan has emerged as a key factor in strained relations between Taiwan and the United States, which is the island’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan maintains that it is an independent country and pledges to defend its independence and democracy.
China regularly describes the island as the most sensitive issue in its relationship with the United States.
Ma said provocations and “external interference” by pro-independence forces could “intensify and become more intense” in the coming months.
“Next year, the situation in the Taiwan Strait will become more complex and serious,” he said.
Beijing has repeatedly sent air missions over the Taiwan Strait in recent months to put pressure on Taiwan. He has said that he will not bow down to threats.
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While the United States only recognizes a China, providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself is required by law and has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” as to whether it will defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. would intervene militarily. ,
The defeated government of the Republic of China fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China.