China says army will act "at all costs" to prevent split of Taiwan

BEIJING: The Chinese army will act "at any cost" to thwart attempts to separate the autonomous island of Taiwan, claimed by Beijing, said Thursday, October 25, the Chinese Minister of Defense.

Beijing has been exasperated by the recent US sanctions imposed on its military, one of many hot spots related to Washington, including a fierce trade war, the increasingly tough military stance of Taiwan and China in the South China Sea.

On Monday, the United States sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait during the second operation of its kind this year, the latest in a series of White House actions in favor of democracy in Taiwan. .

"The Taiwan issue is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and affects China's fundamental interests," Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said at the opening of the meeting. Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, as part of a conference on the annual security Shangri-La dialogue. forum in Singapore.

"On this issue, it is extremely dangerous to repeatedly challenge China's net results.If someone tries to separate Taiwan (from China), the Chinese army will take the necessary measures at all costs . "

Sino-Taiwanese relations have deteriorated since the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen, of the Progressive Democratic Party at independence, came to power in 2016.

Beijing, which has never given up the use of force to place Taiwan under its control, has also been concerned about US openings to the island, such as a new embassy in Beijing. facto and the adoption of a law encouraging visits from US officials.

The military ties between China and the United States are important and sensitive, Wei said, adding that China would never give up an inch of its territory.

Beijing has opposed demonstrations of force and provocation in the South China Sea by "nations outside the region" under the pretext of protecting freedom of flight and navigation, he added.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told his Chinese counterpart last week that the world's two largest economies needed to deepen their relations at the highest level in order to overcome tensions and limit the risk of conflict inadvertently.

Mattis was able to see firsthand last month how to ride the Sino-American. friction can undermine military contacts, when Beijing cancels plans to meet Wei in October.

China has been irritated by the US sanctions imposed on its army for the purchase of arms to Russia and by what Beijing sees as increased support of the United States for democracy in it claims as a sacred territory.

China has also expressed concern after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would withdraw from a historic Cold War era treaty that eliminated nuclear missiles from Europe because Russia violated the pact.

China is not party to this treaty, but Trump also suggested that the Beijing military force had played a role in its decision, which China has described as "completely false".