China reiterates threat to control Taiwan by force

China has reiterated its threat to use force to control Taiwan.

The Cabinet Office for Taiwan Affairs and its Information Department issued a statement Wednesday after nearly a week of missiles fired by Chinese warships and air force planes that invaded Taiwan’s waters and airspace.

The actions disrupted flights and shipping in a region critical to global supply chains, prompting a backlash from the United States, Japan and others.

The English-language version of China’s statement said Beijing would “do its utmost to achieve peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity”.

“But we will not renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to prevent external interference and all divisive activities,” the statement said.

“We will stand ready to respond to interference by external forces or radical actions by separatists by force or other necessary means. Our ultimate goal is to secure the prospect of China’s peaceful reunification and advance the process.”

China said the threatening moves were sparked by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week, but Taiwan said the visit was routine and that China was only using it as a pretext for its threats.

In another response to Pelosi’s visit, China said it was cutting off dialogue with the United States, Taiwan’s main military and political backer, on issues such as maritime security and climate change.

Taiwan’s foreign minister warned on Tuesday that China’s military exercises reflected ambitions to control large swathes of the western Pacific, while Taipei conducted its own exercises to underscore its readiness for self-defense.

Taiwan was divided from the mainland in a civil war in 1949, and the island’s 23 million people overwhelmingly opposed political unification with China, while preferring to maintain close economic ties and a de facto independent status quo.