Military exercise off Taiwan: new threats from Beijing

With a view to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are growing concerns that China could also follow Moscow’s example. Beijing has already threatened to conquer Taiwan – and is further heating up tensions with new maneuvers.

With military maneuvers around Taiwan, China is increasing the pressure on the democratic island republic and the USA. After a statement about the exercises by the People’s Liberation Army, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that the maneuvers were “a counter-reaction to negative US action and the recent visit by US senators” to Taiwan. He referred to the surprise visit to Taipei by a congressional delegation led by influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

The Chinese military said frigates and fighter jets have been sent to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan. “This operation is a response to the fact that the United States has recently sent the wrong signals on the Taiwan question,” said the command of the people’s army. “The tricks of the USA are completely senseless and dangerous. Whoever plays with fire burns himself.” China regards Taiwan only as part of the People’s Republic and firmly rejects such official contacts between its diplomatic partners and the government in Taipei.

According to Chinese military information, attacks were also practiced during the maneuvers in the sea area and airspace around Taiwan. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been growing fears that Beijing, too, could carry out its repeated threats to conquer the island. The US has long since committed itself to Taiwan’s defense capability and is supplying arms.

“Rock Solid” US Support

With their visit, the US congressmen want to demonstrate the US’ “rock-solid” support for Taiwan. At the meeting with President Tsai, Senator Graham sharply criticized Beijing and also referred to China’s political backing for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war. “We start with China paying a higher price for what it’s doing around the world,” Graham said. “Support for Putin must come at a cost.” The senator assured that the US would stand by Taiwan if China stepped up its provocations. Giving up Taiwan means giving up democracy, freedom and free trade, the senator said.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proves that democracies need to strengthen their alliances,” Taiwan’s president said. “Together we can defend ourselves against the threats of authoritarian systems that want to disrupt regional peace.” Rather, despite China’s saber-rattling, Beijing’s State Department spokesman accused the US of being to blame for the tensions between China and Taiwan because it supports Taiwanese “independence forces.” “If you play with fire, you’ll end up burning yourself.” The Taiwan issue is an “internal matter” of China, which does not allow foreign interference.

Activist detained in China returned to Taiwan

Meanwhile, it was announced that a pro-democracy activist from Taiwan who had been imprisoned in China for five years has returned to his homeland. This was confirmed by the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council. Lee Ming Che arrived in Taipei from the southern Chinese city of Xiamen. Lee was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2017 and charged with subversion. Spreading democratic ideals is not a crime, the Council declared. Lee had lectured online on Taiwan’s democratization and managed a fund for families of political prisoners in China.

His arrest was the first criminal prosecution of an employee of a non-profit organization since Beijing passed a 2016 law tightening controls on foreign non-governmental organizations. Lee was serving his sentence in a prison in central China’s Hunan Province.