China sends out chilling warning to US; 'Will not hesitate to start war on Taiwan'

A day after asking Washington to postpone an upcoming arms sale to Taipei, China has w sent a fresh warning to United States that it will t hesitate to start a 'war' if Taiwan declares independence. On June 8,  United States anunced a $120 million sale of ship parts, ship system parts, and related equipment to Taiwan, fourth arms deal signed by US President Joe Biden.

"If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, Chinese army will definitely t hesitate to start a war matter cost," Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe was quoted saying during a meeting with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin. Fenghe added, "Taiwan is China's Taiwan... Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail." Austin, however, asked his Chinese counterpart to refrain from ir action towards Taiwan. 

Earlier, a Chinese mainland spokesperson asked Washington to postpone an upcoming arms sale to Taipei, adding that "it will only furr dam interests of Taiwan compatriots and push m into fire." "We firmly oppose US arms sales to China's Taiwan region," Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a statement on June 9. decision, he added, was a significant violation of one-China principle and three joint statements between China and United States, particularly August 17 communique. It's a display of support for 'Taiwan independence' forces, and it's a "severe breach of US' vow t to assist Taiwan independence," he furr said. 

On June 9, Taiwan's defence ministry anunced a $120 million arms sale for "naval ship spare parts and related technical assistance."  sale, according to government, is intended to help Taiwan keep its navy vessels adequately equipped and restocked, and it is set to go into force next month.

Biden warns of military intervention if China invades Taiwan

On May 23, US President Joe Biden proclaimed that Washington will “intervene militarily” if China invaded Taiwan, adding that need to protect self-ruled island is even stronger after Russia invaded Ukraine. When a reporter in Tokyo asked Biden, "Very quickly, you didn't want to get involved in Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons. Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?" To this, United States President replied, "Yes." “We agreed with One China policy, we signed on to it, but idea that it can be taken by force is just t appropriate,” US President Biden asserted. US is bound to intervene on China's action on Taiwan as per a long-standing treaty, though same treaty is also void if Taiwan asserts its independence or re are any violations of status-quo, i.e. 'One China policy'.

Taiwan-China tensions 

It is important to te that Taiwan, officially Republic of China, is a country in East Asia that shares maritime boundaries with China. Earlier, it was a part of China, but during a civil war, it was divided and formed two self-governing entities-- People's Republic of China (PRC) and Republic of China (ROC). Despite split, China constitutionally considers Taiwan as its integral part under its "One China Policy". According to a US report, it claimed that Beijing would force democratic Island to negotiate on its terms by 2027. US Department of Defence released a report in first week of vember titled "Military and Security Developments Involving People's Republic of China" and has warned Taiwanese government to take "extra care" of its territories.

China's ruling Communist Party has threatened to use force if Taiwan, which recognises itself as a sovereign, independent nation, declared independence. As Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine, China’s foreign ministry had assumed a hardened tone against West, reiterating that Taiwan "is t Ukraine." 

(With ncy Inputs)

Im: AP