Xinhua news agency reported September 10 that "thousands of PLA [People's Liberation Army] and militia personnel attacked ‘enemy forces' from landing craft with covering fire from naval vessels and combat aircraft," earlier this month along the coastline opposite Taiwan. China's official announcement that it carried out military exercises in the southern Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces signals another, perhaps final, upswing in China-Taiwan tensions.
In the same report, commanding officer Gen. Zhang Wannian warned Taiwan President Lee Teng-Hui, "He who plays with fire will get burned." This statement was echoed by the September 10 official People's Daily, which quoted a Chinese international affairs analyst saying that China should use force against Taiwan sooner rather than later.
The news of the exercises broke days ago when Beijing-backed Hong Kong newspapers reported it September 4. However, the Chinese government's official announcement is an important revelation. We see this as an escalation of their conflict with Taiwan, which had been cooling over the past weeks.
Contributing to the growing tension are reports from the South China Morning Post that Chinese President Jiang Zemin will use his upcoming summit with U.S. President Bill Clinton to warn him that Beijing is planning "limited military action" against Taiwan unless Washington can contain Taiwan's independence ambitions. The Post added that planned military action was limited to the outlying islands of Quemoy and Matsu, and would not lead to a long-term occupation of Taiwan-held territory.
China is repeating the same demands it has been making for months that Taiwan rescind any claims to statehood. This announcement of the exercises as well as the report in the Post indicate attempts to give the United States a choice: either accept a limited, short-term military action or force Taiwan into backing off its claims, most likely by withholding military or economic aid.
These next few weeks should be the turning point in China-Taiwan relations, especially with the opening of the UN General Assembly September 14. The new session will offer Taiwan an excellent platform to pronounce its case for statehood. However, the threat to two of its islands may force Taiwan to ease off its claims to statehood.
In the same report, commanding officer Gen. Zhang Wannian warned Taiwan President Lee Teng-Hui, "He who plays with fire will get burned." This statement was echoed by the September 10 official People's Daily, which quoted a Chinese international affairs analyst saying that China should use force against Taiwan sooner rather than later.
The news of the exercises broke days ago when Beijing-backed Hong Kong newspapers reported it September 4. However, the Chinese government's official announcement is an important revelation. We see this as an escalation of their conflict with Taiwan, which had been cooling over the past weeks.
Contributing to the growing tension are reports from the South China Morning Post that Chinese President Jiang Zemin will use his upcoming summit with U.S. President Bill Clinton to warn him that Beijing is planning "limited military action" against Taiwan unless Washington can contain Taiwan's independence ambitions. The Post added that planned military action was limited to the outlying islands of Quemoy and Matsu, and would not lead to a long-term occupation of Taiwan-held territory.
China is repeating the same demands it has been making for months that Taiwan rescind any claims to statehood. This announcement of the exercises as well as the report in the Post indicate attempts to give the United States a choice: either accept a limited, short-term military action or force Taiwan into backing off its claims, most likely by withholding military or economic aid.
These next few weeks should be the turning point in China-Taiwan relations, especially with the opening of the UN General Assembly September 14. The new session will offer Taiwan an excellent platform to pronounce its case for statehood. However, the threat to two of its islands may force Taiwan to ease off its claims to statehood.
