«Don't tease the dragon»
China has promised to crush anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China to pieces. Doctor of Law, Honored Lawyer of Russia, Professor Yuri Zhdanov commented on what lies behind such an outspoken Chinese statement.
– This was stated by the new Minister of Defense of China Dong Jun. Let me remind you that Dong, a former commander of the Chinese Navy, was appointed to his current position at the end of last year after changes in the leadership of the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Here we must understand that Beijing has a very negative attitude towards the new President of Taiwan, Lai Qingde and don't hide it. They are outspoken in their criticism of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for defending the island's sovereignty. Lai said at the inauguration that he supported the current status quo, that «Taiwan is already an independent sovereign country,» so there was «no plan or need» to declare independence.
Therefore, Dong stated: “The DPP authorities in Taiwan are gradually seeking secession. They seek to erase their Taiwanese Chinese identity and sever social, historical and cultural ties across the Taiwan Strait, and for this they will be pilloried in history.»
So, Dong not only promised that any “severator” of Taiwan from China would be crushed to pieces, but would also “suffer his own destruction.” This was said on June 2 in a 30-minute speech by the Chinese minister at the security summit in Singapore.
Let me remind you that the annual security forum in Singapore is held by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). It represents a rare gathering of senior military officials from across the Asia-Pacific region, including some who are geopolitical rivals or view each other warily. For many of them, this is a rare opportunity to hear from senior Chinese military leaders and ask them questions.
– Not so tough, quite logical. And in comparison with the impudent statements and actions of the United States, they are even almost vegetarian. Dong said Taiwan was «the center of key problems» for China and accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party of separatism.
His words were given weight by recent major military exercises around the island following the inauguration of Taiwan's new president.
“We will take decisive action to limit Taiwan's independence and make sure such a plot never succeeds,” Dong promised. At the same time, he criticized «external interfering forces» for selling weapons and having «illegal official contacts» with Taiwan.
— Who else? And Dong is quite right when he talks about illegal American contacts with Taiwan. After all, the United States has not officially recognized Taiwan. Then on what grounds do they send diplomats there and supply them with weapons? It’s the same as arming a self-proclaimed group, read – an outlawed gang. But the Anglo-Saxons have their own concepts of legality.
What is important is that Dong does not immediately rush into battle, but leaves a chance for an amicable solution to the problem: “China remains committed to peaceful reunification. However, this prospect is increasingly undermined by pro-Taiwanese separatists and foreign forces.»
— Yes, the conversation took place. In a meeting with Dong on May 31, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged China «not to use the political transition in Taiwan — part of the normal, routine democratic process — as a pretext for coercive measures.»
But to the Chinese, it is clear that the U.S. weapons are used as the basis of Taiwanese separatism. It is clear that China would be outraged by such US support for Taiwan, although Washington, like most countries, does not diplomatically recognize Taiwan as an independent country.
Dong stated bluntly: “They sell a lot of weapons to Taiwan. This kind of behavior sends very wrong signals to the Taiwanese independence forces and causes them to become very aggressive. I think it is clear to us that the true goal of a foreign power (the United States) is to use Taiwan to contain China.”
– I have already mentioned the recent large-scale exercises. In addition, Chinese ships and aircraft conduct pre-emptive patrols against other vessels operating in international waters and skies when they make disputed claims in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
And there are enough such complaints. In general, the meeting in Singapore takes place against the backdrop of a very tense security situation throughout the region, where many neighbors believe that China is using its military power to assert disputed territorial claims and lay claim to military superiority in a part of the world (attention!) where it has The US has deep security ties.
— What is there not to understand? In his speech, Dong reflected a different vision of China, portraying it as a soft power whose military «never operates from a so-called position of strength» while taking aim at the US, declaring: «We will not allow anyone to incite geopolitical conflicts or any war, hot or cold, in our region.”
At the same time, the head of the Chinese Ministry of Defense warned that there is a “limit” to China’s restraint when it comes to “provocations” in the South China Sea.
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– Obviously, the Chinese minister had in mind the US ally – the Philippines, which he, however, did not name directly.
According to Dong, «a certain country» was «encouraged» by external forces and «committed indirect provocations.» This is an indirect reference to the deployment of a US missile system during military exercises in the Philippines in April this year.
— Very seriously. Here we must remember that China does claim historical rights to most of the South China Sea, despite the fact that in 2016 the International Tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines against this claim. Well, some agree with this decision (perhaps biased), others not so much.
– And you’ll be right – there was such pressure, as Doong stated. The head of the Chinese Defense Ministry rejected US accusations that the export of dual-use goods from China strengthens Russia's defense industrial base amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Dong said: “We have never supplied weapons to any of the parties to the conflict (unlike the USA and NATO! — Yu.Zh.). We have put stricter controls on the export of dual-use goods and have never done anything to fan the flames.”
Of course, this issue was raised during Dong's meeting with his American counterpart Austin — the first face-to-face negotiations between the defense departments of the United States and China from 2022. Austin indicated (!) to China that there would be consequences if Beijing continued to support Russia militarily.
Dong responded diplomatically that China “remains open to exchanges and cooperation with the US military.”
< p>As they say in Odessa, you forbade us, so you lived the way we were afraid.
— This is unlikely, as the Red Army soldier Sukhov said. Robert Ward, chairman of IISS Japan, admitted to CNN that he thought Dong's tone was «more shrill» than he had seen in previous speeches by Chinese defense leaders at meetings: «The strategic environment in Asia has actually become more tense, and I think we saw this in the Chinese Defense Minister's speech today.»
Summary: Don't tease the dragon.