China Vows No Leniency on Taiwan Independence as Nine Warships Deploy Near Island

Dec 13, 2024, 05:58 AM

China has broken its silence regarding recent military activities around Taiwan, declaring it will "not be soft" on Taiwan independence activities. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, stated that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will decide whether and when to conduct military exercises "according to our own needs and the situation of the struggle." The PLA has increased naval and coast guard deployments near Taiwan, with reports of nine Chinese coast guard ships detected south of the island. This escalation follows Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's recent visit to the United States. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense noted that China's threat has evolved since 2022 from coercion to directly affecting the First Island Chain, undermining the rules-based international order. In response, Taiwan has initiated war-preparedness drills and closed its emergency response center established due to increased Chinese military activity. China's military spokesperson also quoted ancient strategist Sun Tzu, stating, "There are no constant situations in war, just as water has no constant shape."