Defense minister warns China opposes displays of strength and “provocations” from countries outside the region on South China Sea issue
Asia Times
Date: October 28, 2018
By: Bertil Lintner
Changing of the Guard ceremony at National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: iStock
China’s defense minister Wei Fenghe said on October 25 that Beijing is prepared to take military action to prevent any attempt to separate Taiwan from the mainland.
According to Reuters and other news agencies, Wei also said: “The Taiwan issue is related to China’s sovereignty and touches upon China’s core interests … on this issue, it is extremely dangerous to challenge China’s bottom line.”
That line would be if Taiwan, now known officially as the Republic of China, declared itself as the Republic of Taiwan.
Beijing’s relations with Taipei have been particularly strained since the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, came to power in 2016. [FULL STORY]
