Chinese General threatens Taiwan: Military will use force if there is no other way

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Li Zuocheng, revealed the possibility of using military force on Taiwan in his speech at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on the 15th anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law today (29).

People's Liberation Army During a Combat exercise in Russia in 2018 (AP Photo)

In his speech, General Li said, “If the possibility for peaceful reunification is lost, the people’s armed forces will, with the whole nation, including the people of Taiwan, take all necessary steps to resolutely smash any separatist plots or actions,”.

 “We do not promise to abandon the use of force, and reserve the option to take all necessary measures, to stabilize and control the situation in the Taiwan Strait,” he added.

Although he was apparently threatening the separatists in Taiwan, General's statement was recognized by the international community as a public threat against Taiwan to stop them from being an independent nation. China has never renounced the use of military force to bring Taiwan under its control so far and it is rare for a top, serving military officer to so explicitly make the threat in a public setting.

General Li Zuocheng is the chief of the Joint Staff Department and a member of the Central Military Commission. He is also one of China’s few senior officers with combat experience, having taken part in China’s invasion of Vietnam in 1979.

On 20th of May, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen showed a red light towards the Chinese rule over the nation by rejecting China's "One Country, Two Systems" policy. Since then, Beijing was deeply concerned about the situation.

Taiwan government denounced the comments by rejecting the Chinese dominance again, saying that threats of war were a violation of international law and that Taiwan has never been a part of the People’s Republic of China.

Amid the tense situation between China and Taiwan, the USA seems to be seeking an opportunity to establish its naval power over the South China Sea. Today, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin sailed near the Paracel Islands challenging the Chinese claims.

The Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan, and the US has long said Beijing has militarized the islands in the South China Sea via the deployment of military hardware and construction of military facilities.