Beijing threatens Taiwan’s new president with “retaliation” after his inauguration speech

Taiwanese separatists “will be pilloried of shame for history”, commented Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, May 21, in a press release published by the ministry. The day before, the new Taiwanese president was sworn in.

Qualified for “dangerous separatist” by Beijing, Lai Ching-te promised in his speech to defend democracy in the face of Chinese threats and called on China to “stop its political and military intimidation”. This inauguration speech was defined as a “confession of independence” by China which threatened the new head of state with “reprisals”.

“Lai Ching-te’s betrayal of his nation and his ancestors is shameful”added the minister during a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries. “But whatever they do, they will not be able to prevent China from finally achieving complete reunification”continued the diplomat. “I would like to emphasize that no matter what [Lai Ching-te] said or how he says it, it will not change the status and the fact that Taiwan is part of China”argued for his part the spokesperson for the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Binhua.