In an attempt to bully Taiwanese voters, China's Ministry of Defense warned on Friday that it would “crush any Taiwanese independence conspiracy” and warned Taiwanese to make the “wrong” choice by voting for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate William Lai Qingde. If he did, he was implicitly threatened. Saturday.
Mr. Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Defense Said Even if Taiwan buys improved American-made F-16 fighter jets, it will not be able to “stop the flow of complete reunification of the motherland.”
“The Chinese People's Liberation Army remains on high alert and will resolutely crush any 'Taiwan independence' secessionist plots and take all necessary measures to resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhang said. said.
China used to framed Taiwan's election is a choice between “peace and prosperity'' and “war and decline.''
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mao Ning Said On Friday, he refused to answer questions about Taiwan's elections, describing it as “China's internal affairs.”
Taiwan Vice President and current presidential candidate Lai Ching-de speaks at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rally in Taipei for the 2024 presidential election on December 29, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan (Walid Behrazeg/Anadolu, Getty Images) via)
“Regardless of the outcome, the basic fact remains that Taiwan is part of China and there is only one China in the world,” she said.
Mao Zedong rebuked the U.S. government for “sending the wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence'” separatist forces, and called on the U.S. government to “cease official exchanges with Taiwan.”
“If the United States really wants to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it must clearly oppose 'Taiwan independence' and support the peaceful reunification of China,” she argued.
Lai is seen as the frontrunner heading into Saturday's general election, potentially extending the DPP's tenure to an unprecedented third term as President Tsai Ing-wen's successor. China will be very much hoping that the more pro-Beijing Kuomintang (KMT) and its presidential candidate Hou Yuxi win.
The third major candidate is former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-che, from the relatively young and small Taiwan People's Party (TPP).Ko passed it He is aiming for an opportunity to form a fusion ticket with Mr. Hou, and with the opposition vote split evenly, the most likely outcome is Mr. Lai's victory.
All candidates held large rallies on Friday. At a Kuomintang rally in New Taipei, Mr. Hou told his supporters that if Mr. Lai were elected and the Democratic Progressive Party remained in power, the Taiwan Strait was “likely to descend into chaos.”
Taiwan President and Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate William Lai shakes hands with Taiwan Nationalist Party presidential candidate Hou Yong-hui in Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday, while Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-ji waits in Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday. . December 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Pei Cheng, Pool)
“Do you all want Taiwan to go to war too?” he asked the crowd.
Ko said the TPP's strong performance in the presidential election has created a “growing wave of people who want reform” and are challenging Taiwan's “political status quo.”
Scott Kennedy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Said The Associated Press reported on Friday that despite China's outbursts, the Democratic Progressive Party is unlikely to pursue “separatist” policies under Lai's government, and few in Taiwan want a fundamental change to the status quo. .
President Kennedy said, “No one wants to start a war, and the current situation is minimally acceptable to almost everyone, whether in Taiwan, mainland China, or the United States.”
