Taiwan president warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if island falls to China | Taiwan

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Taiwan is committed to defending its democracy against an increasingly aggressive China, the island’s president has vowed, warning of “catastrophic consequences” for the region if it falls.

Tsai Ing-wen’s comments, in an article published on Tuesday, came amid record raids by Chinese warplanes in the air defense zone. On Tuesday, Taiwan’s prime minister, Su Tsing-chang, said “over the top” activity violated regional peace, and Taiwan needed to be on the alert.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent nearly 150 aircraft to the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the first four days of October, in what mainland figures and media described as a show of force but condemned by world governments as an act of intimidation and aggression. .

Tsai, writing for Foreign Affairs, stressed Taiwan’s desire for peace but said “if its democracy and way of life are threatened, Taiwan will do whatever it takes to defend itself.”

But she also urged other countries to “understand the value of working with Taiwan,” in the face of the broader threat posed by Beijing. “And they should remember that if Taiwan falls, the consequences will be disastrous for regional peace and the democratic alliance system.”

Beijing claims Taiwan is a province of China, and has vowed to take it by force if necessary. She considers Tsai’s government separatist, but said Taiwan is already a sovereign country with no need to declare independence, and no desire for conflict.

“Amid the almost daily interventions of the People’s Liberation Army, our position on cross-strait relations remains consistent: Taiwan will not bend to pressure, but it will not turn into an adventure, even when it accumulates support from the international community,” she said.

China sent a record number of military aircraft to Taiwan’s air defense zone on Monday Photo: Jin Danhua/AP

Few countries officially recognize Taiwan, a situation that Tsai said has forced Taiwan to think asymmetrically, form informal partnerships and agreements, and contribute to international bodies as a non-state party. With growing ties around the world, Tsai said, Taiwan has become an increasingly important democracy, a global trading partner and supplier, and an important sector of the first island chain, which stretches from northern Japan to Borneo.

“If this line is broken by force, the consequences will disrupt international trade and destabilize the entire western Pacific,” she said. In other words, a failure to defend Taiwan would not only be disastrous for the Taiwanese; It would overturn the security architecture that has allowed peace and extraordinary economic development in the region for seven decades.”

Analysts argue about the imminence of the threat, but this week’s escalation of what is already close to daily flights has alarmed observers and drawn rebuke from various countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday he hoped Taiwan and China could resolve the issues peacefully. He said Japan is studying possible scenarios in order to make its own preparations.

This followed comments from the Australian government and the US State Department urging Beijing to stop its threats or use of force. The White House also said it had been in private communications, through diplomatic channels, about China’s actions in relation to Taiwan.

Taiwan’s foreign minister announced Tuesday that a group of French senators will visit the island this week.

Taiwan hopes to provide deterrence to China through strong international relations and investment in its defense capabilities, including the purchase of weapons via the United States.

“Initiatives such as these are aimed at maximizing Taiwan’s self-reliance and readiness, signaling that we are willing to shoulder our share of the burden and not take the support of our security partners for granted,” Tsai said.

Taiwan was “fully committed to cooperating with our neighbors to prevent armed conflicts in the East China and South China Seas, as well as in the Taiwan Strait.”

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