By Xinghui Kok and Fanny Potkin
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The prospect of peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan is increasingly being “eroded” by Taiwanese separatists and external forces, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said on Sunday, vowing to ensure that the independence will never happen.
China considers democratically governed Taiwan its own territory, despite strong objections from the Taipei government, and last month held war drills around the island in anger over the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching -te that Beijing describes as “separatist”.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore, Dong said Taiwan was “at the heart of fundamental issues” for China, but Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party was gradually pursuing separatism and was determined to erase Chinese identity.
“These separatists have recently made fanatical statements that show their betrayal of the Chinese nation and their ancestors. They will be nailed to the pillar of shame of history,” he said.
After his speech, delegates asked Dong several questions, but he remained focused on Taiwan and had to be prodded by the moderator to address other topics.
He accused foreign powers of interfering in “domestic issues” and “emboldening Taiwanese separatists.”
Dong added that even as China is committed to peaceful reunification with Taiwan, the People’s Liberation Army “will remain a powerful force in maintaining national reunification.”
“We will take resolute measures to curb Taiwan’s independence and ensure that such a plot never comes to fruition,” he said. “We are very confident in our ability to prevent Taiwan’s independence.”
China has repeatedly been angered by U.S. support for Taiwan, even in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, such as arms sales.
Dong called the arms sales a test of China’s “red lines.”
“They sell a lot of weapons to Taiwan. This kind of behavior sends very wrong signals to the Taiwan independence forces and makes them very aggressive. I think we are clear that the real goal of the foreign power is to use Taiwan to contain China.
Andrew Yang, Taiwan’s former defense minister, said Beijing had said it would pursue “reunification” by winning the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese, but that “their actions did not yet live up to their expectations.” words “. Beijing, on the contrary, “holds a big stick” and is “conflicting and contradictory”, he declared.
Yang said he hoped the United States would stick to its timetable for arms sales to Taiwan so the island could strengthen its self-defense.
Taiwan has complained for two years about delays in deliveries of US weapons, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, while manufacturers supply Ukraine to support it in the war against Russia.
Taiwanese President Lai has repeatedly proposed talks with Beijing, but has been rebuffed. According to him, only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Xinghui Kok and Fanny Potkin; additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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