In some of his strongest rhetorics at that time, in the midst of the links between the crossed features, the head of Taiwan, Lai Ching-Te, described China as “foreign hostile force”.
He said Taiwan had “no other choice than taking even more proactive measures” as a result, as he announced a series of new national security measures, in particular in restoration of a military judicial system and tightening the criteria of residence for those of China, Hong Kong and Macao.
In response to Lai’s remarks, the Chinese authorities called him a “destructive of cross peace” and a “creator of the crisis”.
China claims that Taiwan self-rolled like its territory but Taiwan considers itself distinct from the Chinese continent.
China quickly responded to Lai’s statement, with Taiwan’s office spokesman in China, Chen Binhua, said that China would have “other choice than to make decisive measures … (if) ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist the forces would dare to cross the red line”.
“Those who play with fire will surely be burned.”
This is not the first time that Lai, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been considered a pro-independence independence, has incurred Beijing’s anger. He was previously described as “troublemaker” before the polls, and the Chinese state media even suggested that he should be prosecuted for secession.
Addressing journalists after a high -level national security meeting on Thursday, Lai also warned of growing spy efforts in China.
President Lai said that China had “benefited from Taiwan’s freedom” to recruit different members of society, including current and former members of the armed force, organized crime groups and the media to “divide, destroy and unlock us from the interior”.
Taiwanese authorities charged 64 spying people for China last year – a triple increase compared to 2021 – Lai said, adding that the majority of them were current or former military officials.
To counter China’s attempts to infiltrate and spy on the soldiers, Lai said he had planned to restore the military judicial system to “allow military judges to return to the front line … to manage criminal cases involving military personnel in active service”.
Taiwan had abolished the military judicial system in 2013 after being criticized for his opaque management of the death of an army conscript.
LAI also called on the authorities to “provide artists from driving directives while working in China”, adding that this would prevent China from putting the stars from behaving in a way that “endangers national dignity”.
His comments arise while the Taiwanese authorities criticized Taiwanese celebrities earlier who shared publications on social networks calling for Taiwan to be “returned” to China.
The Taiwanese actors and singers who seek to advance their career in the Lucrative Chinese entertainment industry have also undergone increasing pressure to publicly adopt a pro-Beijing position on the issue.
