TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China on Wednesday rejected US claims that it poses a military threat to Taiwan
"Certain people on the US side are jumping up and down, continuously rehashing the so-called 'mainland threat' or 'military pressure,'" Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference, per Reuters.
Chen called US criticisms "a complete distortion of the facts and harbors malicious intentions," adding that China considers Taiwan an internal affair.
The spokesperson urged the US to handle Taiwan-related issues carefully. Beijing has repeatedly demanded that Washington cease weapons sales to Taiwan.
Chen’s comments come after Taiwan’s KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last week. Cheng framed her trip as a peace mission.
Though China emphasizes peaceful annexation, it has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan. Last April, China launched its two-day “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercise, which saw the Shandong aircraft carrier operating between 350 and 400 kilometers from Taiwan. According to the Taiwan military, 13 Chinese Navy ships, 10 coast guard vessels, and eight ships comprised part of the Shandong aircraft carrier group.
At Christmas, 2,000 Chinese fishing boats sailed to the East China Sea and formed two 466-kilometer-long parallel lines, almost in the shape of “a reverse L shape,” The New York Times reported. This was followed by another incident in January, when approximately 1,400 Chinese fishing boats congregated in the East China Sea.
Also in December, China’s Eastern Theater Command announced the “Justice Mission 2025” military exercise, covering areas surrounding Taiwan. Eastern Theater Command Spokesperson Shi Yi said the drills tested the command’s joint combat capabilities.
The exercise deployed forces from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force to conduct patrols, practice blockade maneuvers, and gain “complete control” of the surrounding area. Forces also simulated establishing regional deterrence.
China announced restricted airspace off its coast for 40 days on March 27 without explaining the move, the Wall Street Journal reported. The zones cover areas north and south of Shanghai, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. They also extend from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea. The restrictions end on May 6.
Additionally, China continues to dispatch military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone daily, while military ships frequently sail around Taiwan.
In response to the rising Chinese military threat, Taiwan has ramped up drills to counter Chinese forces. Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said on Monday the government will soon conduct its first joint exercise involving the Ministry of the Interior and other agencies, according to Bloomberg.
The drill, which simulates a Chinese blockade, aims to ensure Taiwan can protect critical supply lines during a regional conflict and continue importing energy, Ma said. He warned that a large-scale blockade around Taiwan would have a far-reaching impact on the entire region. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted the risks involved, he added.
