Taiwan tensions rise as China vows to tighten military grip

The spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wu Qian, warned that in the event of an escalation of separatist activities in Taiwan, China will tighten the noose around the island. "The more rampant 'Taiwan independence' separatists become, the tighter the noose around their necks and the sharper the sword hanging over their heads will be," said Wu, quoted by the Ministry of Defence on social media.

Wu Qian emphasised that the People's Liberation Army is key in combating separatism and promoting reunification. In recent years, patrols around Taiwan and deterrence activities have become the norm. The spokesperson also accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party of escalating provocations and seeking independence by relying on U.S. support.

The United States, despite lacking formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, opposes unilateral changes to the status quo and provides the island with arms, sparking protests from China. In recent years, China has increased military pressure, regularly sending aircraft and ships near Taiwan. Since December 2023, Taipei has also reported Chinese balloon flyovers, aiming to improve the burden on Taiwanese forces.

China claims that Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China, although it has never controlled it. Leader Xi Jinping believes reunification is inevitable and does not rule out military intervention. The government in Taipei rejects these claims, emphasising that only the people of Taiwan can decide its future. Public opinion polls show that most Taiwanese want to maintain the current status quo. President Lai Ching-te also declares the continuation of the foreign policy of the previous president, Tsai Ing-wen, which means maintaining the status quo in relations with China.