(Express) – Chinese warplanes were sent over Taiwan almost every day in January according to local outlets, as Beijing warns the island “independence means war”. Taiwanese media outlets said Chinese military aircraft entered the country’s airspace on 30 different days last month. China’s state news outlet the Global Time retaliated by warning the intrusions over Taiwan were a sign Beijing is “preparing to fight the possible war through exercises”.
Global Times reports noted the increased military aircraft over Taiwan, and quoted an analyst who said China “has sent a clear warning by formulating easily understandable words that ‘Taiwan independence’ means war”.
They added China is also “taking concrete steps to prepare for one if it happens by conducting intensive exercises in the Taiwan Straits”. The Global Times then warned “foreign and Taiwan secessionist forces should not miscalculate” China’s willingness to go to war, insisting it is “both talking the talk and walking the walk”.
It said: “The mainland is both talking the talk and walking the walk, so foreign and Taiwan secessionist forces should not make the strategic error of believing that the mainland dare not use force when needed, and such miscalculation could lead to a result neither side would like to see.” READ MORE