Newly elected Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has warned future military officers that Beijing is relentless in its ambitions to seize control of the self-governing island.
Lai gave this warning while speaking to military cadets during the 100th founding anniversary of the Republic of China Military Academy in Kaohsiung, during which he revealed that the paramount national goal of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the annexation and "elimination" of Taiwan. Lai, who has been labeled as a "dangerous separatist" by Beijing, claimed that the significant threat mainland Chinese forces pose should urge cadets not to succumb to defeatism. (Related: China preparing to launch an invasion of Taiwan, warns Chinese journalist.)
"The biggest challenge is to face the powerful rise of China, [which is] destroying the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and regards Taiwan’s annexation and the elimination of the Republic of China as the great rejuvenating cause of its people," Lai said.
In his address, attended by high-ranking military officials and the chief of the Kaohsiung branch of the American Institute in Taiwan – the United States' de facto embassy in Taiwan – Lai noted that Taiwan's future should be determined solely by its people. He emphasized the need for clarity in recognizing adversaries and allies, warning against the defeatist notion that Taiwan could quickly collapse under a Chinese attack.
"We really must be able to distinguish between ourselves and our enemies and between friend and foe, and absolutely cannot accept the defeatism of 'the first battle is the last battle'," Lai said.
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Hunang: Reunification is a historical necessity for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
The conflict between China and Taiwan can be traced back to 1949, when Chinese Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War on the mainland to Mao Zedong's communist revolutionaries.
In 1971, the United Nations recognized the communist government in Beijing as the legitimate ruling authority representing China at the UN, and in 1979 the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the mainland and acknowledged the "One China" principle by breaking off official recognition of Taiwanese sovereignty.
In recent years, Taiwan has opted to reaffirm its independence from Beijing despite being recognized as a sovereign nation by only a few countries with UN seats.
This led to more escalating tensions between Taipei and Beijing, compounded by increasing defense cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan. China argues that U.S. military and diplomatic aid to Taiwan violates the One China principle.
Moreover, the inauguration of Lai in May contributed to the escalating tension. Since assuming office in May, China has escalated its military incursions into Taiwanese airspace and waters to punish the island for so-called "separatist acts."
"China remains committed to peaceful reunification; however, this prospect is increasingly being eroded by separatists for Taiwan independence and foreign forces," Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warned in May.
Beijing has vowed to reunify the island with the mainland, even by force, if necessary, and that any formal declaration of independence from Taiwan would be grounds to attack the island. Wang Huning, a senior leader in the CCP, reiterated Beijing's stance at a forum on June 15. Huning declared that "reunification is a historical necessity for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" and promised to "smash any separatist plots."
Learn more stories about a potential armed conflict between China and Taiwan at WWIII.news.
Watch Brannon Howse of "Worldview Report" and David Zhang of the Epoch Times discussing the possibility of China invading Taiwan as early as 2024.
This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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