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Taiwan’s president warned China to rein in its “military adventurism” on Saturday, as tensions between the two countries reached new heights.
Since Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, Beijing has increased military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, despite her rejection of China’s claim to the island.
In recent months, Chinese jets have breached Taiwan’s air defence zone at an unprecedented rate.
In her New Year’s speech, Tsai remarked that the Chinese authorities “should curb the rise of military adventurism within their ranks.”
“Using armed force to settle disputes between our two sides is not an option.”
Beijing believes Taiwan to be part of its territory and has threatened to annex it, if necessary by force.
“The total reunification of our motherland is a dream held by people” in both China and Taiwan, President Xi Jinping proclaimed in his New Year’s address.
After a record number of Chinese jets entered Taiwan’s air defence zone in October, the defence ministry warned that military tensions with China were at their greatest in four decades.
In recent years, Beijing has intensified its efforts to isolate Taiwan on the world scene.
It regards any official declaration of a “independent” Taiwan as a provocation, and has warned retaliation against countries that support Taipei’s right to self-determination.
Taiwan’s diminishing diplomatic friends have been urged to switch sides by Beijing.
Nicaragua recently chose Beijing over Taipei as its capital, and China opened its embassy in the Central American country on Friday.
