(RepublicanDaily.org) – China has vented out its frustration with Taiwan over the latter’s continued refusal to bow down to China’s self-proclaimed authority over its smaller neighbor by conducting military drills, ostensibly as a form of “punishment.”
Taiwan has long rejected China’s claim that the small country is a territory of the Asian giant. Only recently, Taiwan’s newly-installed president, Lai Ching-te, issued a strong rebuke against China, calling on the latter to cease its military and political bullying tactics. Lai also called on China to respect Taiwan’s independence.
Formed in the late 1940’s, Taiwan, whose official name is the Republic of China, was composed of people fleeing from the oppressive communist regime of Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party (CPP). Around 1.2 million people, along with the leaders of China’s pre-communist government, settled in the territory and established the country. China attempted outright hostilities against Taiwan in the 1950’s, bombing a number of Taiwan’s islands. However, the U.S. intervened on behalf of Taiwan.
Following President Lai’s statements, China recently conducted a two-day operation of “punishment drills” which saw heavily armed vessels conducting mock battles in an attempt to intimidate Taiwan, whose government China has condemned as being “separatist.” The Chinese army, air force, rocket force and navy scrambled various vessels carrying live ammunition and munitions and conducted “practice” strikes of key Taiwan military installations.
Besides being a “strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces,” the Chinese military also called the drills “a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces.” The drills were held in the Strait of Taiwan, an area that has always been a site of heightened tensions between the neighboring countries.
Still, the Taiwanese military responded in kind, with several jets scrambling to meet the Chinese threat head-on.
China has been extremely aggressive in its pursuit of territories in considers to be a part of its “nine-dash-line” mapping. The country has sent parts of its forces to occupy a number of islands belonging – backed by international courts – to countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
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