China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) said it was ending almost a week of live-fire drills off Taiwan that were triggered by the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
In a major escalation of tensions, Beijing sent military ships and warplanes across the median line separating Taiwan and China.
The PLA said the naval and air operations were successful and had achieved their targets of sending a warning to those favoring Taiwan’s formal independence and their foreign backers.
The actions disrupted flights and shipping in a region crucial to global supply chains, prompting strong condemnation from Australia, US, Japan and others.
Yesterday China’s ambassador to Australia said China is “ready to use all necessary means” to reunify Taiwan with “the motherland”, while addressing Australia’s “difficult” relationship with the superpower.
During an address at the National Press Club, ambassador Xiao Qian said the US was to blame for rising tensions around the self-governing island, which Beijing claims is part of the mainland.
China was “absolutely determined” to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said, insisting that Beijing “will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.”
He said China has been very patient waiting for a “peaceful unification”.
“But … we can never rule out the option to use other means, so when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means,” he said.
Asked to clarify how “all necessary means” should be interpreted, Xiao said: “You can use your imagination.”
Taiwan split with the mainland amid civil war in 1949, and its 23 million people overwhelmingly oppose political unification with China while preferring to maintain close economic links and de facto independence.
The PLA said it will continue to carry out military training in the Taiwan Strait and is organizing “normalized combat readiness security patrols”.
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