China's military threats against Taiwan President Lai Ching's visit to the US’will push the country's relationship further apart. Chiu Chui-cheng, the top Chinese policymaker in Taipei, made such comments on Wednesday (December 4). Neighboring China's state media has warned of a harsh response to the visit, which he believes will have a negative role in the future relations between the two countries. British news agency Reuters reported this news.
China considers autonomous Taiwan as part of its territory. The country is increasing military pressure on Taiwan. Beijing has conducted two rounds of military exercises this year. Security sources told Reuters that China may hold new military exercises around Taiwan this weekend in response to the visit.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said Lai's visit to consolidate friendship with other countries had the support of the Taiwanese people.
He said, 'But the Chinese Communists threaten Taiwan with military hegemony. I think our citizens do not agree with that.'
Minister Chew warned, 'This will only push the adversarial relationship further apart, which will not be conducive to future ties.'
He also said that the international community should take China's military drills and threats seriously.
Lai and his government rejected Beijing's claim of sovereignty. They have the right to engage with the rest of the world.
President Lai Ching-te went on a tour of three countries in the Pacific Ocean to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. China expressed anger over his visit to Hawaii over the weekend. Lai is scheduled to stay overnight in the US territory of Guam on Wednesday. He is only making an official stopover there as part of a long tour.
On a two-day visit to Hawaii, Lai met with the governor there. There he gave a speech and visited the World War II memorial.
China considers Lai a 'separatist'. Since he took office in May, two rounds of military exercises have been held around Taiwan. The Chinese military is also conducting military operations around Taiwan on a daily basis.
Chinese state television's website said on Wednesday that Lai's stoppage was aimed at “relying on the United States to seek independence.” Which means, he is the real destroyer of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
It added, 'Lai knows very well that the US is bound to strongly oppose his 'ceasefire' on the mainland and its strong countermeasures. And that will only increase the tension in the Taiwan Strait.'
Taiwanese presidents routinely stop in the United States on their way to and from distant allies in the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. The US view on this is that it is a routine practice for security and convenience.
Chinese state television said it was just a pretext for Taiwan to 'legitimize' the trip.
“This is pushing Taiwan step by step into a more dangerous situation,” state television said.
