The Chinese army vowed on Friday to “crush” any effort aimed at Taiwan's independence, on the eve of decisive presidential elections on the island, which Beijing says is part of its territory.
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“The Chinese People's Liberation Army maintains high vigilance at all times and will take all necessary measures to crush 'Taiwan independence' attempts in any form,” Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said in a press statement.
He accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party of pushing the island “towards dangerous conditions of war” by purchasing weapons from the United States.
Taiwan, with a population of 23 million and considered a model of democracy in Asia, is located just 180 kilometers from the coast of communist China, which considers it one of its provinces linked to the rest of the country by force if necessary.
Saturday's vote is being closely watched by Beijing, Washington and markets, and Taiwan – the world's largest semiconductor producer – is also a major player in the economy.
Throughout the week, Beijing increased its diplomatic and military pressure on the island. On Thursday, five Chinese balloons once again crossed the median line that separates the archipelago from China, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, which also detected ten aircraft and six warships.
