China: Inauguration Speech By New Taiwanese President "Confession Of Taiwan Independence", Beijing Must Take "Countermeasures"

Head of Indo-Pacific Command: The Chinese President has told the military to be prepared to execute an attack on Taiwan by 2027.

BEIJING/TAIPEI - After the inauguration of the new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Beijing said that the speech made by Lai could be described as a "confession of Taiwan independence" and said that Beijing "must take countermeasures" in response and "punish them". 

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In April, Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command repeated earlier warnings by other senior U.S. officials that said Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his military to be prepared to execute an attack on Taiwan by 2027.

Aquilino's comments echoed previous warnings by other officials. In 2023, United States Air Force General Mike Minihan who serves as head of the United States Air Force's Air Mobility Command said in a leaked memo that he believed the U.S. would be at war with China by 2025.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said that Beijing "Must take countermeasures and penalize the DPP authorities for colluding with external forces in their provocations for independence". 

"No matter how they stir up trouble, they cannot stop China from achieving complete reunification," China's Foreign Ministry said.

It also said, “China will be reunified. No external interference can hold it back. Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle and endanger China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with a resolute response”.

Spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Chen Binhua claimed that the speech demonstrated Lai is "a traitor to mainstream public opinion on the island and a disruptor of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", adding that the Taiwanese President can't help but to "expose his true colors" as an advocate for Taiwanese Independence with "radical views", according to Chinese state-run media.

"It is clear that from the very beginning of his tenure, Lai cannot help but to expose his true colors as an advocate for Taiwan independence with an extremely arrogant attitude and more radical views," Xinhua cited the official as saying.

"Compatriots on both sides of the Strait are Chinese and belong to the Chinese nation. No one desires more than we do to achieve national reunification through peaceful means," Chen stated.

He added, "However, in response to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' collusion with external forces to provoke and seek independence, we must counteract and punish them". 

Chen added, "Lai's attempts to incite anti-China sentiments and pursue independence by force will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation of military conflict," Chen said.

"The inability of mainland residents and students to travel to Taiwan for tourism or study is entirely caused by the DPP authorities."

He added that no matter what Lai says or how he says it, it, "Cannot stop the irreversible trend of China's reunification". 

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