BEIJING (Reuters) – China will take “drastic measures” against Taiwan if the island decides to achieve formal independence, a Chinese official warned on Wednesday, adding that Taipei’s provocations and outside interference could be step up next year.
Beijing regards Taiwan as an integral part of its territory and has increased military and diplomatic pressure over the past two years, provoking Taipei’s ire and concern in Washington.
China was ready to do everything possible to achieve peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but it would be compelled to act if any red line was crossed on the issue of independence, said the spokesperson for the Chinese Bureau of China. Taiwanese businessman Ma Xiaoguang at a press conference.
“If Taiwanese separatist forces wishing for independence were to provocate, use force or cross a red line, we would be forced to employ drastic measures,” he said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Taiwanese Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing to “seriously think about its action towards Taiwan and make a correct judgment on the situation.”
(Report Ryan Woo, with Yimou Lee; French version Camille Raynaud)
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