On the day of the inauguration of the new President Lai in Taiwan, China threatened the country again. A connection is historically predetermined. Lai called for an end to the intimidation attempts.
The new President Lai Ching-te has been sworn in in Taiwan. China’s leadership has used harsh words to make the Communist Party’s position clear and threatened Taiwan.
demands on China
At his inauguration, Lai called on Beijing to end tensions. “I would also like to call on China to stop its political and military intimidation against Taiwan,” the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politician told thousands of supporters in Taipei.
Lai Ching-te at his inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Building in Taipei.
China should share the responsibility with Taiwan to maintain peace and stability in the strait between the two Taiwan Strait countries and the region. The 64-year-old said his government will neither give in nor provoke and will maintain the status quo. This means that Taiwan should effectively remain an independent country.
“Reunion unavoidable”
The Communist Party in Beijing counts the island and its more than 23 million inhabitants as part of its territory, although it has never ruled Taiwan and there has been a democratically elected government in Taipei for decades. China regularly threatens war if a peaceful unification does not occur.
Background: China-Taiwan conflict
The dispute over Taiwan’s status dates back to the Chinese Civil War, when the troops of the national Chinese Kuomintang fled to Taiwan after their defeat by the communists under Mao Tsetung. The communist People’s Republic was founded in Beijing in 1949, while Taiwan, known as the “Republic of China”, has developed into a liberal democracy since the 1990s.
However, Beijing sees the island as its own territory. With its One China doctrine, Beijing demands that no country be allowed to maintain diplomatic and other official relations with the island republic if it wants to maintain a normal relationship with the People’s Republic.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said after the inauguration that the path to independence was a dead end and doomed to failure.
No matter how the political situation in Taiwan changes, both sides across the Taiwan Strait belong to a China that is represented internationally by the People’s Republic, said the spokesman. A so-literal “reunification” is historically predetermined and ultimately unavoidable.
For China, Lai is a separatist
The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing added that Taiwan’s new anti-China president had sent “dangerous” signals aimed at undermining peace and stability.
Because the DPP stands for Taiwan’s independence, Beijing sees Lai and the party as separatists.
War would have global consequences
A war in the Taiwan Strait would have dramatic consequences, as the strait, which is between around 130 and 180 kilometers wide, is an important shipping route for world trade and Taiwanese companies produce globally important chip technology. In addition, the USA, as Taiwan’s closest ally and arms supplier, would be drawn into the conflict through its promise to help in the event of defense.
Sanctions against US companies
At the same time as Lai took office, China announced sanctions against three US defense companies. Boeing’s defense, space and security divisions as well as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems were affected.
These were placed on an “unreliable companies” list. This is intended to punish them for supplying arms to Taiwan.
With information from Benjamin Eyssel, ARD Beijing.