China to take Taiwan by force if necessary

China on Wednesday, in only its third white paper on Taiwan since 1993 and the first after President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, said it will not “renounce” the use of military force to bring the self-governed island under its control as its armed forces concluded the largest ever exercises around the island but announced that it will conduct regular patrols in the region. 

China will seek “peaceful reunification,” but “will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures,” said the white paper titled The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era. It was released by the Taiwan affairs office of the state council (China’s Cabinet) and its information department. 

Referring to the use of military force, it said: “This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances,” it added. 

Meanwhile the military exercise announced last week in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit - which extended beyond the initial four-day schedule - ended on Wednesday, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) eastern theatre command said in a statement on Wednesday. 

For nearly a week, the PLA have fired missiles over the island, while its fighter jets and warships entered into Taiwan’s air and water space with impunity, crossing the notional median line on the Taiwan Strait.
China Aug 10 Hindustan Times / AFP