China’s military activity around Taiwan threatens region: U.S.
The HinduU.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin stressed American support for Taiwan on Saturday, suggesting at Asia’s premier defence forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Mr. Austin noted a “steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan,” including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China. China “firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” and the Chinese government and military will “resolutely smash any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland,” Gen. Wei reportedly told Mr. Austin. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian quoted Gen. Wei as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by “smashing it even at any price, including war.” In his speech, Mr. Austin said the U.S. stands “firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means,” but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.