TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO, 大陸國台辦) reiterated on Wednesday (Oct. 16) China's commitment to pursuing peaceful reunification with Taiwan but did not rule out the use of force.
TAO Spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) clarified that any potential use of force would target external forces and a minority of "Taiwan independence" supporters, not the broader Taiwanese population.
The statement follows recent military exercises conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA, 解放軍) and China's Coast Guard around Taiwan on Monday.
During a seminar on the same day, Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正), Minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會主委), asserted that Taiwan would not succumb to "China's military threats" and emphasized that the core issue between the two sides is China's refusal to recognize the existence of the Republic of China (中華民國).
Chen blamed the current tensions on the stance of the Lai Ching-te (賴清德) administration, which he accused of fostering hostility between the two sides by adhering to a "Taiwan independence" position.
He urged Taiwanese compatriots to recognize the dangers posed by the Lai administration's stance, firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and foreign interference, and safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
As the situation develops, observers will closely watch for any shifts in diplomatic or military actions from both sides, potentially influencing the region's stability.