In response to President Joe Biden's statement that the U.S. would defend Taiwan, Chinese conducted a drill near the island, as a warning to Taipei against colluding with the U.S. A large-scale military exercise was announced in the region this month.
The Joint Naval and Air Combat readiness exercise was a solemn warning against the recent collusion between the United States and Taiwan, according to the People's Liberation Army's PLA Eastern Theatre Command.
It is hypocritical and futile for the U.S. to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue, Shi Yi, a spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement to Chinese state television.
Shi didn't give any details about the drills. He said that the troops from the theatre command were capable of thwarting external interference and trying to advance independence for the island.
Two days ago, Joe Biden said the U.S. would intervene militarily if China tried to take Taiwan by force.
Biden's stance was viewed by many as a deviation from the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, but the White House quickly downplayed the comments, saying they don't reflect a change in U.S. policy. Biden said that the U.S. would protect Taiwan from a Chinese attack for the third time in recent months. Three times, the White House walked back on the comments.
Under the One China policy, the U.S. acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of it, but has never officially recognized Beijing's claim to the self-governing island of 23 million.
The comment angered Beijing, which warned the U.S. against playing with words on the one-China principle.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said there would be irretrievable consequences for the Chinese-US relations and no forces, including the U.S., that could prevent it from unifying Taiwan.
We treat our friends with fine wine. The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said Tuesday that "for our enemies we have shotguns."
Tan Kefei, Defense Ministry spokesperson, said Wednesday that the PLA will take all necessary measures to thwart interference by external forces and Taiwan independence forces' secession attempts, and will take all necessary measures to thwart interference by external forces and Taiwan independence forces' secession attempts.