Taiwan commissioned two US Perry-class guided missile frigates into the Taiwan Navy in November 2018 Taiwan commissioned two US Perry-class guided missile frigates into the Taiwan Navy in November 2018 AFP
Posted on 01/15/2019 11:10:07 AM PST by LibWhacker
Taiwan commissioned two US Perry-class guided missile frigates into the Taiwan Navy in November 2018 Taiwan commissioned two US Perry-class guided missile frigates into the Taiwan Navy in November 2018 AFP
A senior Chinese military official warned the US Navy Tuesday against any "interference" in support of Taiwan's independence, saying that Beijing would defend its claim to the island "at any cost".
General Li Zuocheng, a member of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Admiral John Richardson, the chief of US naval operations.
China sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since they split in 1949 after a civil war won by Mao Zedong's communists.
The self-ruled island has its own currency, flag and government, but is not recognised as an independent state by the UN.
Beijing has said it will not hesitate to use force if Taipei formally declares independence, or in the case of external intervention -- including by the United States, the island's most powerful unofficial ally.
"The Taiwan issue is an internal matter of China, concerns China's fundamental interests and the national feelings of the Chinese people, and no outside interference will be tolerated," Li Zuocheng said in a statement released by the Ministry of Defence.
"If anyone wants to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will defend the unity of the motherland at any cost," he told the the US Navy chief.
In recent months, US Navy ships have repeatedly passed through the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the island.
Beijing views any ships passing through the straits as essentially a breach of its sovereignty -- while the US and many other nations view the route as international waters open to all.
A recent US law encouraging mutual visits between US and Taiwanese officials has also angered Beijing.
Washington, which broke diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 to recognise Beijing remains the island's most powerful ally, and its main arms supplier.
Ping
Red China
What means “at any cost”?
Do they really want to know whether Trump will fight back?
China is like a barking dog.Bark.Bark.Bark.
We should be so frightened of them.Not.
Chin has 1 halfassed Aircraft carrier.
Short of going nuclear do they really think they can take on the US Navy? Under Trump?
And lose a trillion dollars of crap sent here every year?
This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.
Hahahaha, even going nuclear, they couldn’t beat us. These turd-world punks couldn’t put a dent in American military might, though I’d love to see them try!
That always pops into my head when I hear blowhards like this.
Chill. Do not be afraid, Grasshopper, of toothless dogs barking in the dark.
Hmm.
War with China.
The bad side...
War with China.
The good side...
We can finally stop importing cheap Chinese garbage for everything we use.
Do you really want to see them try?
Trying would probably cost us at least a carrier and a whole bunch of people. I am confident we would win, but it would not be “pretty” on either side.
I would prefer they not try.
I just wonder if this saber rattling is just a saving face exercise to mask the upcoming win Trump will get against China in their trade negotiations?
China has been “warning” the US about Taiwan for decades.
No, I don't want to see them try. But it's their decision, not ours, imo. It's completely up to them.
Any general uttering the words, ‘At any cost’ should be subject to dismissal.
It really boils down to this: Do we want to surrender half of the world’s navigable waters to the world’s tyrants? I don’t want to fight that fight, but if you have to do it, you have to do it, and should welcome it, particularly when you have such a lopsided advantage.
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