Sign in Home News Sport Reel Worklife Travel Future Culture More Search

Home Coronavirus Video World UK Business Tech Science Stories Entertainment & Arts Health More

Asia China India

ADVERTISEMENT

China warns Taiwan independence Top Stories

'means war' as US pledges support EU backtracks on vaccine export

controls for NI
18 hours ago
The reversal came aer widespread
condemnation of the EU's plan to override the
Brexit deal.

45 minutes ago

WHO criticises EU over vaccine

export controls
1 hour ago

The vaccines that work - and the

others to come
10 hours ago

ADVERTISEMENT

GETTY IMAGES

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province

China has warned Taiwan that any attempt to seek independence "means
war".

The warning comes days aer China stepped up its military activities and flew
warplanes near the island.

It also comes aer new US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to
Taiwan, and set out his stance in Asia.

The US has called China's latest warning "unfortunate", adding that tensions
did not need to lead to "anything like confrontation".

China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself
as a sovereign state, with its own constitution, military, and elected leaders.

Taiwan reports 'large incursion' by Chinese war jets

The Taiwan-sized problem for the next US president

Features
What's behind the China-Taiwan divide?

Analysts say Beijing is becoming increasingly concerned that Taiwan's

government is moving the island towards a formal declaration of
independence and it wants to warn President Tsai Ing-wen against taking
steps in that direction.

President Tsai, however, has repeatedly said that Taiwan is already a

independent state, making any formal declaration unnecessary.

On Thursday, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian defended the

recent military activities near Taiwan, saying they were "necessary actions to 'We have to protest' - anti-Putin
address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard anger spreads
national sovereignty and security".

"They are a solemn response to external interference and provocations by

'Taiwan independence' forces," he added.

"We warn those 'Taiwan independence' elements - those who play with fire will
burn themselves, and Taiwan independence means war."

China and Taiwan: The basics Tourists face ban from

Amsterdam's cannabis cafes

China and Taiwan have had separate governments since the end of the
Chinese civil war in 1949. Beijing has long tried to limit Taiwan's
international activities and both have vied for influence in the Pacific region

Tensions have increased in recent years and Beijing has not ruled out the
use of force to take the island back

Although Taiwan is officially recognised by only a handful of nations, its

democratically elected government has strong commercial and informal
links with many countries
The exiles: Hong Kong at a
Like most nations, the US has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but a crossroads
US law does require it to provide the island with the means to defend itself

The US responded later on Thursday.

"We find that comment unfortunate," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby
told reporters, in the first statement by the new administration on China-
Taiwan relations.

Mr Kirby added that the Pentagon "sees no reason why tensions over Taiwan
Gasping for air: Latin America's
need to lead to anything like confrontation".
oxygen crisis

The jazz icon who stood up to

apartheid

GETTY IMAGES
The truth behind a 'super herb'
The new US administration led by Joe Biden, seen here in a 2013 photo with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is expected to
maintain pressure on China
taking the US by storm

The new US administration is expected to maintain pressure on China over a

wide range of issues including human rights, trade disputes, Hong Kong and
Taiwan, amid the deteriorating relationship between the two powers.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, meanwhile, said China should "not

underestimate" the island's determination to defend its sovereignty and
uphold freedom and democracy.

The Soviet genius the world never

got to see

Blunt threat should be taken

seriously

The brain op described as ‘easier

than curing a toothacheʼ

China's official spokespeople try not to talk about war. They almost always
emphasise that theirs is a peace-loving country.

China is not a nation with a history of expeditionary military confrontation far

beyond what it regards as its borders.

However, under Xi Jinping's leadership, China has repeatedly said that it would
use military force to prevent any move towards formal independence by
Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province.
Striking news pictures from around
Threatening a war isn't as nuanced as talk of military intervention. It's blunt, the world
more frightening. It is different too. Military intervention could come in a
multitude of ways; not necessarily an out-and-out war between two
competing sides and their allies.
Elsewhere on the BBC
But Taiwan's status is a red line for Beijing, a part of what it regards as its
unimpeachable territorial integrity. An "internal affair", alongside Hong Kong.

The language deployed by the government spokespeople may not always be

this provocative but when it comes to Taiwan it's fair to assume this is what
China is, ultimately, willing to resort to.

You might also be interested in: Lyrics quiz

Have you been getting these songs wrong?
In January 2020 Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen told the BBC that China
needed to respect the will of Taiwanese people. "We don't have a need to
declare ourselves an independent state," she said.

Feeling hot
What happens to your body in extreme heat?

Most Read

EU backtracks on vaccine export

controls for NI 1
WHO criticises EU over vaccine
export controls 2
France closes borders to most non-
President Tsai Ing-wen tells China to “face reality” and show Taiwan respect EU travel 3
Democrat to move 'to get away from
Taylor Greene' 4
Related Topics
Woman 'kept mother's body in
China Taiwan United States freezer for 10 years' 5
Girl, four, discovers dinosaur
footprint on beach 6
More on this story
The vaccines that work - and the
What's behind the China-Taiwan divide? others to come 7
23 hours ago
Officer killed in Capitol riot to lie in
Taiwan reports 'large incursion' by Chinese war jets honour 8
4 days ago
Tourists face ban from Amsterdam's
The Taiwan-sized problem for the next US president cannabis cafes 9
28 October 2020
Argentina imposes 'rich tax' to
Why US-China relations have reached a low fund Covid relief 10
24 July 2020

Taiwan profile
1 February 2019

More Videos from the BBC

Recommended by Outbrain

Was Christopher Columbus Rare images from inside the What happened to Russia's
hiding another identity? 'Amish Las Vegas' 'eighth wonder of the world'?

Former power station's 600 The Netherlands: Looting is CCTV shows final hours of man
chimney demolished 'pure terror' for local shop restrained by police
owner

Elsewhere on BBC
Recommended by Outbrain

BBC BBC
How to be a 'supply chain master' WandaVision: Marvel's most intriguing show in
years

BBC BBC
Why Nanjing City Wall is iconic The Venezuelan village that refused to be bought

BBC BBC
Singapore's first crowdsourced digital art The new use for abandoned oil rigs
exhibition turns fond Singapore memories into
art.

BBC News Services

On your mobile On smart speakers Get news alerts Contact BBC News

Home Sport Worklife Future Music Weather

News Reel Travel Culture TV Sounds

Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC Get Personalised Newsletters Why you can trust the BBC

Advertise with us AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

© 2021 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.