China Tells Taiwan 'Independence Means War'

China threatens Taiwan with war should the latter declare independence even as its diplomats warn the United States against continuing to treat China as a strategic rival.

These twin threats delivered Thursday at different fora continue China's bellicose rhetoric meant to dampen the Biden administration's enthusiasm for supporting Taiwan. China calls Taiwan a renegade province that will inevitably re-unite with the mainland, by military force if necessary.

In unusually threatening terms, China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday in Bejing explained the unprecedented forays by large numbers of warplanes belonging to the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on Jan. 23 and 24 into Taiwanese airspace were acts of self-defense against provocations by Taiwan and the U.S.

Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian described the PLAAF sorties as "necessary actions" while calling Taiwan an inseparable part of China.

“The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” said Wu.

“They are a solemn response to external interference and provocations by ‘Taiwan independence’ forces."

Wu then assailed a “handful” of people in Taiwan seeking the island’s independence.

“We warn those ‘Taiwan independence’ elements: those who play with fire will burn themselves, and ‘Taiwan independence’ means war,” he said.

Soldiers of the Republic of China Army.

The aerial incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone led the Biden administration to call on China to stop placing pressure on Taiwan.

Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the U.S., said there could be "mistakes" if the Biden administration clings to the Trump administration's view that China is a "strategic rival."

"Treating China as a strategic rival and imaginary enemy would be a huge strategic misjudgment," said Cui in a forum in Beijing on Thursday. "To develop any policy on the basis of that would only lead to grave strategic mistakes."

Cui said China would not yield on matters concerning sovereignty and territorial integrity, clear references to Taiwan.

"China will not back down. We hope the United States will respect China's core interest and refrain from crossing the red line," warned Cui.

On the other hand, Cui said China wants cooperation, not confrontation with the U.S. He called for both countries to address differences through dialogue but again warned the U.S. against it crossing China's "red lines." (Jan. 28, 2021)