As the new year approaches, tensions between China and Taiwan are on the rise after a senior Chinese diplomat pledged this week that the island democracy would eventually fall under Beijing’s control.
“The contrast in power across the Taiwan Strait will become wider and wider, and we will have a full, overwhelming strategic advantage over Taiwan,” wrote Liu Junchuan, the liaison head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.
The official also noted that due to the economic, political, social, cultural and military superiority of the “motherland,” Taiwan would eventually have no choice in the matter of reunification.
In recent months China has been increasing military exercises near the island in a bid to further isolate it from a shrinking list of allies.
The United States has a mutual security agreement with Taiwan and is legally bound to provide the island with arms.
China’s exercises come amid a growing suspicion by Beijing that Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen will pursue formal independence. [source]
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