BEIJING: China reaffirmed its threat to use military force to bring self-governing Taiwan under its control amid threatening Chinese military exercises that have raised tensions between sides to their highest level in years.

Statement issued by Cabinet’s Taiwan Affairs Office and its news department followed almost a week of missile firings and incursions into Taiwanese waters and airspace by Chinese warships and air force planes.

Actions have disrupted flights and shipping in a region crucial to global supply chains, prompting strong condemnation from US, Japan and others.

Chinese statement said Beijing seeks “peaceful unification” with Taiwan but “does not pledge to relinquish use of military force and retains all necessary options.” In an additional response, China said it was cutting off dialogue on issues from maritime security to climate change with US, Taiwan’s chief military and political backer.

China says threatening moves were prompted by a visit to Taiwan last week by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but Taiwan says such visits are routine and that China used that merely as a pretext to up its threats.

US President Joe Biden has said repeatedly US is bound to do so but staff members have quickly walked back those comments. In response to drills, Taiwan has put its forces on alert, but has so far refrained from taking active counter measures.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 10 2022

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