China remains likely to attack Taiwan: Taiwanese president

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen says the likelihood remains for China to launch an attack on the self-ruled island, which is recognized by most world countries as Chinese territory.

“No one can exclude this possibility. We will need to see whether their policymakers are reasonable policymakers or not,” Tsai said in a late Monday interview on Taiwan television in response to a question on whether there was a chance that China would attack Taiwan.

“When you consider it from a regional perspective, any reasonable policymaker will have to very carefully deliberate as to whether launching war is an option,” she added.

Tsai claimed Taiwan was “carefully following” Chinese activity near the island.

“When our government faces resistance and pressure from China, we will find our method to resist this. This is very important,” she said.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province. Relations have soured since Tsai, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, rose to power two years ago following a presidential election.

China believes Tsai intends to press for formal independence of the island, which is a red line for Beijing, but she has publicly noted a desire for maintaining the status quo and ensuring peace.

China has held military drills around Taiwan in recent months, causing alarm in Taipei. Beijing, however, describes the exercises as routine, but insists that it will not tolerate any attempt by the island to declare independence.

EA