Taiwan Blasts Beijing's Remarks On Unification

Taiwan has lashed out at Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's renewed threat to use force to assert Beijing's claim to the island, accusing the mainland of creating unease in the region and seeking to "expand its hegemony."

A statement from Taipei's Mainland Affairs Council targeted comments Wei made in Singapore on Sunday in which he said Beijing would "resolutely take action" to defend its claim to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The council asserted that Taiwan has never been a part of the People's Republic of China and would never accept Beijing's threats. It accused Beijing of "challenging international norms and order" and said its claim to seek peaceful development had been recognised internationally as "a lie of the ages."

"We need to remind the public that the Chinese Communist Party is practising anti-democracy, anti-peace between the two sides of the strait and further resorting to war. This is the main cause of the tension in the Taiwan Strait and the region, and it is the source of danger and provocation against peace and stability," the statement said.

It said Taiwan, which is heavily dependent on US arms for its defence, would continue to strengthen its armed forces, "defend its national sovereignty and democratic system," and uphold the right of the island's 23 million people to "freely choose their own future." (AP)