Despite the closure of major Chinese military schools in taiwan strait, which lasted for a week and caused international concern, tension in the region remains high, as evidenced by the ongoing war of declarations between the two sides. One day after the publication of his new White Paper. Beijing about her subject TaiwanWhere the unshakable will of the Chinese leadership to achieve “reunification” of mainland China with the breakaway island by good or force is confirmed, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman renewed threats against the Taipei authorities.

“Their collusion (by the Taiwanese government) with outside forces to achieve independence and their provocations will only hasten their destruction,” Wang Wenbin said, adding that reunification with China was “inevitable.” Beijing seeks to integrate Taiwan into Chinese territory in accordance with the “one country, two systems” principle, which implies partial autonomy in domestic politics, similar to Hong Kong and Macau. However, the Taipei government, like most of the inhabitants of the island, rejects this decision, insisting on maintaining the current status quo, that is, de facto autonomy.

In a statement, Taiwan’s foreign ministry categorically rejected the “one country, two systems” model, with ministry spokeswoman Joan Ou emphasizing that “only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.” She accused Beijing of using US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taipei “as an excuse to create a new norm that will intimidate our people.”

Taiwan responded to Chinese military pressure with its own high schools in the southern part of the island, which lasted two days. Yesterday, President Tsai Ing-wen, in an interview with Air Force officers, calculated that the threat of the use of force from China has not diminished, although its military presence in the straits seems to be de-escalating.

In Riyadh

Meanwhile, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported yesterday that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will make his first post-pandemic overseas trip to Riyadh next week. China, which needs Saudi oil, is Saudi Arabia’s No. 1 trading partner. According to the Guardian, the Saudis are preparing a lavish reception for Xi, in contrast to the coldness that prevailed during US President Joe Biden’s visit to the kingdom last June. However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman refrained from confirming or denying the British newspaper.