Beijing: China on Wednesday forcefully dismissed US claims that it is escalating military intimidation toward Taiwan, rejecting the assertions as deliberately deceptive and rooted in “malicious intent.” The exchange signals mounting frictions in the Taiwan Strait amid ongoing diplomatic initiatives, agencies reported.
“Certain people on the US side are jumping up and down, continuously rehashing the so-called ‘mainland threat’ or ‘military pressure,'” Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, remarked during a media briefing. He characterized such rhetoric as “a complete distortion of the facts and harbours malicious intentions.”
“Taiwan was an internal affair for China, which would brook no outside interference,” Chen stressed, reiterating Beijing’s long-standing position. He implored Washington to exercise “utmost caution” and manage Taiwan-related issues ‘carefully and prudently’.
China Shuns Talks With Lai As ‘Separatist’
These pointed remarks responded to a US State Department statement last week, which encouraged China to initiate dialogue with Taiwan and alleviate its military and non-military pressures on the democratic island. The urging came in the wake of a high-profile visit to Beijing by Cheng Li-wun, a prominent Taiwanese opposition leader who held discussions with President Xi Jinping.
China has steadfastly refused direct communication with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom officials have branded a dangerous “separatist” pushing independence agendas. Lai, elected in 2024 on a platform emphasizing Taiwan’s distinct identity, has countered by rejecting China’s sovereignty demands outright, affirming that “only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their future.”
Cheng explained that her trip was intended to cultivate peace, aligning with China’s announcement of goodwill gestures like loosening export curbs on food products to Taiwan. Nonetheless, Beijing maintained its standard military patrols encircling the island throughout her stay. Taiwan’s executive branch has voiced concerns that such unofficial, party-level interactions undermine its formal diplomatic role in handling China ties.
KMT’s Cheng Urges Peace Path To Washington
In a Wednesday interview with Taiwan radio, Cheng Li-wun — chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s largest opposition party with historic pro-unification leanings — expressed hope for smoother US-China relations. Her forthcoming US visit this year precedes one by US President Donald Trump. “We can definitely go down the path of peace,” she affirmed. “This is the important message I hope to send to Washington.”
Beijing regards Taiwan, a self-governing entity since 1949, as an inseparable province and has markedly increased provocative military actions in recent years. These include successive war games and the most recent live-fire exercises off Taiwan’s coast in late December, heightening regional alarms.
