China is trying to "bite off" Taiwan space and create a new normal with its military exercises and other pressure moves. This was stated by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, quoted by "Reuters".
In his words, this is an issue that should cause concern on a global scale.
China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its territory and staged two days of war games around the island last week after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing calls a "separatist".
Although these exercises have officially ended, China's military activity continues. Taipei said Chinese military aircraft and ships conducted a "joint combat readiness patrol" yesterday.
"The pressure of the Chinese Communists on Taiwan is comprehensive, especially the diplomatic one," Lin pointed out.
Taiwan faces serious obstacles in its attempts to participate in international organizations, such as a major meeting of the World Health Organization this week, which it was unable to attend, the minister added.
Chinese pressure keeps Taiwan out of most international organizations. Beijing claims that Taiwan is its province and has no right to the trappings of a state, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.
Lin pointed to other things China is doing, such as unilaterally opening new air routes near Taiwan-controlled islands to the Chinese coast and sending coast guard ships to Taiwan's east coast during exercises last week.
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"The Chinese Communists continue to change the status quo," he noted. "They are creating a new normal, pushing at every stage, trying to bite us and annex us".
Yesterday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated its complaints that Lai is a dangerous supporter of Taiwan's official independence and threatened further Chinese military activity.
Lai has repeatedly proposed negotiations with China, but his proposal has been rejected. He argued that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future. China, on the other hand, considers that Taiwan is a purely internal matter.
Lin said stability is everyone's issue.
"The strait issue is not just about the strait; this is a regional or even a global issue", he was categorical.
Taipei claims that Taiwan is now an independent country - the Republic of China. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists, who established the People's Republic of China.