China vows zero tolerance for separatist activities in Taiwan

BEIJING: On Wednesday, August 10, China pledged zero tolerance for separatist activities in Taiwan and reaffirmed that it would take the self-ruled island by force if necessary.

The warning from Beijing, which considers Taiwan's territory, came after days of unprecedented Chinese military drills around the island sparked by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip.

Pelosi became the highest ranking US official to visit Taiwan in decades despite threats from China, which tries to keep Taipei isolated on the world stage.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has issued a white paper laying out how it intends to claim the island through a range of economic incentives and military pressure.

The white paper said we are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form.

China will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures, but we will only be forced to take drastic measures to respond to the provocation of separatist elements or external forces if they ever cross our red lines. In 2000, China released a white paper on Taiwan.

Since the late 1990s, the island has transformed from an autocracy into a vibrant democracy, and a distinct Taiwanese identity has emerged.

Relations between the two sides have seriously worsened since Tsai Ing-wen became president in 2016.

Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party don't consider Taiwan to be part of China.

Their platform falls under China's broad definition of Taiwanese separatism, which includes those who advocate for the island to have an identity separate from the mainland.