China has once again made it clear that it will not renounce the use of force over Taiwan, a democratic island that Beijing views as its territory. This declaration came on the heels of large-scale military drills around Taiwan and a high-profile visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to a province near the Taiwan Strait. These moves are part of an ongoing effort by China to flex its military might and warn against what it perceives as “separatist acts” from Taiwan’s leadership.

On Monday, China staged another round of war games near Taiwan, following a speech by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on the island’s National Day. Lai struck a firm tone, stating that China has no right to represent Taiwan, while also expressing a willingness to work with Beijing on global issues like climate change. However, Beijing swiftly dismissed Lai’s remarks. “There was no goodwill to speak of,” said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, reinforcing that Beijing sees Lai as maintaining a “stubborn separatist position.”

While China professes to be open to peaceful reunification, the government has repeatedly emphasized that it will not rule out the use of force. “We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and endeavor,” Chen said during a press briefing in Beijing. “But we will never commit ourselves to renouncing the use of force.”

Beijing’s threat is primarily directed at “external forces” and the small group of Taiwanese separatists, not the broader population of Taiwan. However, the message is clear: any attempts at independence or foreign intervention could be met with a harsh military response. “No matter how many troops Taiwan has and how many weapons it acquires, and no matter whether external forces intervene or not, if it [Taiwan] dares to take risks, it will lead to its own destruction,” Chen warned.

China’s military drills have become a regular occurrence over the past few years, with warplanes and warships frequently being spotted near Taiwan. This week, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported the detection of 22 Chinese military aircraft and five navy ships in the vicinity. These drills are designed not only to pressure Taiwan but also to send a signal to the international community, especially the United States, which maintains close, though unofficial, relations with Taiwan.

President Xi’s recent visit to Dongshan Island in Fujian province—directly across from Taiwan—adds another layer of symbolism to China’s current stance. The island was the site of a famous battle in 1953, where Chinese forces repelled an invasion by Taiwanese forces. Xi’s visit, framed by state media as an effort to promote cross-strait cultural exchanges, also seems to underscore China’s commitment to bringing Taiwan under its control, peacefully or otherwise. The timing of the visit, just after the military drills, was seen as a deliberate message from Xi.

However, China’s aggressive posture may be backfiring. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General, Tsai Ming-yen, suggested that China’s military exercises had generated more international sympathy for Taiwan, especially from the U.S. “The Chinese communists’ military exercise has created a negative effect in that it made the international community more supportive of Taiwan,” Tsai noted.

Taiwan’s defense ministry echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the pressure from China but maintaining that the island’s military continues to improve its readiness. “In response to the severity of the enemy threat, the military continues to maintain a high degree of vigilance and make every effort to improve training and preparedness,” the ministry stated.

While China’s actions have drawn criticism from the international community, including the United States and Japan, Beijing seems undeterred. China’s military has hinted that further drills around Taiwan could occur depending on the “level of provocation” from Taiwan’s leadership.

As the tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate, the possibility of peaceful reunification seems ever more distant. With each new drill and each inflammatory statement, the gap between the two sides widens. For now, China appears resolute in its stance, unwilling to back down from its threat to use force if necessary. Meanwhile, Taiwan, with the support of its international allies, continues to assert its right to self-determination, setting the stage for an increasingly tense future in the Taiwan Strait.

ACZ Editor: China is becoming more bold, more blatant and more notorious in its harassment of Taiwan. Taiwan has no choice but to be patient, but China’s pretension to insantiy is disturbing.

To put this in perspective, imagine Taiwan was your sister and her ex-boyfriend was obsessed in getting her back to the point that he was following her around and constantly threatening violence. The Kentucky farm boy in me would want to put an end to that…