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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》US warns of tactics Beijing expected to use
People are silhouetted against an image displayed at the Ministry of National Defense in Taipei on Dec. 26, 2022. Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
SPEECH IMPEDIMENT? The state department said that using routine celebrations or public remarks as a pretext for provocation would undermine peace and stability
Staff writer, with Reuters, TAIPEI and BEIJING
Beijing’s expected use of President William Lai’s （賴清德） Double Ten National Day speech today as a pretext for provocative measures would undermine peace and stability, the US Department of State said on Tuesday.
Taiwanese officials have said that China is likely to launch military drills near Taiwan in response to Lai’s speech as a pretext to pressure the nation to accept its sovereignty claims.
A state department spokesperson said it could not speculate on what China would or would not do.
“However, it is worth emphasizing that using routine annual celebrations or public remarks as a pretext or excuse for provocative or coercive measures undermines peace and stability,” the spokesperson said.
China late on Tuesday accused Lai of escalating tensions with “sinister intentions” in a speech he made over the weekend at an event to mark National Day today.
Lai said that it is “impossible” for the People’s Republic of China （PRC） to become Taiwan’s “motherland,” because the Republic of China （ROC, Taiwan） has older political roots.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said he was confusing right and wrong.
Lai’s “Taiwan independence fallacy is just old wine in a new bottle, and again exposes his obstinate stance on Taiwan independence, and his sinister intentions of escalating hostility and confrontation,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense yesterday reiterated its objections to US weapons sales to Taiwan, after the administration of US President Joe Biden approved US$567 million in further defense support.
“What needs stressing is that arming Taiwan is encouraging Taiwan independence, and Taiwan independence means war,” the ministry said, echoing language it has used previously.
China’s military operates on an almost daily basis near Taiwan and regularly stages what Taipei refers to as “joint combat readiness patrols,” most recently on Sunday.
China has also been carrying out a series of other drills in the past few weeks, including operations with Russia in the western Pacific and test firing an intercontinental ballistic missile last month.
In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that China has been using various reasons to “legitimize its targeted military drills.”
“We continue to monitor and analyze the training dynamics of the Chinese communists around the Taiwan Strait in order to anticipate the situation,” it said.
Separately, US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, in a teleconference with reporters yesterday, was asked about Lai’s remarks referring to the ROC, which celebrates its 113th anniversary today, as perhaps the rightful “motherland” of the people of the PRC, which has just celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Kritenbrink said he would refer the reporter to Taipei and to Lai’s office for any commentary on his specific comments.
“America’s longstanding one China policy remains unchanged. It’s guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiques and the six assurances,” he said. “We oppose unilateral changes to the status quo by either side, we do not support Taiwan independence, and we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved peacefully.”
The US’ fundamental interest is in “the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” and that would continue to be its focus going forward, Kritenbrink added.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
