China will never commit to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, the Beijing government said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
China, which considers democratically ruled Taiwan its territory, held large-scale military exercises around the island on Monday in what it said was a warning against “separatist activities.”
“We are willing to pursue the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and efforts,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binghua told a regular briefing in Beijing.
“But we will never commit to renounce the use of force,” he said.
“No matter how many troops Taiwan has, how many weapons it acquires, and whether foreign powers intervene or not, if it dares to take risks, it will lead to its own destruction. Our actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not stop at any time,” he added.
Chinese state media reported Wednesday that President Xi had arrived the day before on Dongshan Island in China’s Fujian Province, which opposes Taiwan and where China repelled an attempted invasion by Taiwan-based forces in 1953.
The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
No truce or peace treaty was ever signed.