China’s Xi calls for Taiwan reunification in national day speech

October 1, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “President Xi Jinping reiterated his call for China to ‘reunite’ with Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its own, during an address on the eve of national holiday celebrations.

Xi also used his speech to thousands of people gathered for a banquet celebrating 75 years of the People’s Republic to call for opposition to the ‘separatist activities’ of supporters of Taiwanese independence.

‘Achieving complete national reunification is the common aspiration of the Chinese people,’ Xi said.

‘It is an irreversible trend, a matter of justice, and it is in accordance with the popular will. No one can stop the march of history,’ he said.

Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has also stepped up rhetoric about ‘unification’…”  (China will become a basic partner with Russia for the rapidly approaching battle of Armageddon – Revelation 16:16. Russia will lead invasion number one – Ezekiel 38 & 39. China will lead invasion number two – Revelation 16:12; Revelation 9:14 – 16. Then all nations will come against Jerusalem for the final invasion at which point Jesus will return to stop the bloodshed and set up his eternal kingdom upon earth – [He gathers] all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken… Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south – Zechariah 14:2 – 4. Then Psalm 2:6 occurs as God the Father says: …I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion [Jerusalem].  See the next five reports)

China says it will not renounce use of force over Taiwan

October 17, 2024 — Voice of America News reports: “China will not promise to renounce the use of force over Taiwan but this is aimed at external interference and a small minority of separatists, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday following the country’s latest war games around the island.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, staged a day of large-scale drills around the island on Monday it said were a warning to ‘separatist acts’ following last week’s national day speech by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

‘We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and endeavor,’ Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press briefing in Beijing.

‘But we will never commit ourselves to renouncing the use of force,’ he said.

That is, however, aimed at the interference of ‘external forces’ – a reference to the United States and its allies – and the very small number of Taiwan separatists not the vast majority of Taiwan’s people, Chen said…”

Taiwan president says defence of island’s sovereignty ‘will not change’

October 18, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te insisted Friday that the island’s determination to defend its sovereignty ‘will not change’, as he praised troops and coast guard personnel for their response to China’s latest military drills.

Beijing sent a record number of military aircraft as well as warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan on Monday in the fourth major round of major drills in just over two years.

Taiwan deployed ‘appropriate forces’ and put outlying islands on heightened alert in response to the exercises, which Beijing said were a ‘stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces’.

On Friday, Lai visited air force, navy and coast guard facilities in northern Taiwan to thank personnel for ‘fully defending national security’.

‘Our determination to protect national sovereignty will not change,’ Lai said at a coast guard division near the capital…”

Taiwan president ‘won’t yield an inch’ in defense of island’s territory

October 25, 2024 — Voice of America News reports: “Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Friday the island will not cede an inch of its territory, as China maintains military pressure on Taipei to accept its claim of sovereignty.

Lai made the remarks during a visit to the Kinmen islands off China for the 75th anniversary of a victory over communist forces in the Battle of Guningtou.

It followed a fortnight of intense military activity in the Taiwan Strait — the sensitive waterway that separates China and Taiwan — with troops from both sides holding drills.

‘(We) will not yield an inch of ground in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to firmly defend our homeland,’ Lai said in a speech, referring to the islands controlled by Taipei.

‘The Battle of Guningtou lets us understand that democracy and freedom should not be taken for granted, but require the joint efforts of generations to defend them,’ Lai said.

Without naming China, Lai insisted that ‘any external forces’ would not be allowed to change the future of the islands…”

US, Canada warships pass through Taiwan Strait

October 21, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “A US and a Canadian warship have passed through waters separating Taiwan and China, a week after Beijing held large-scale military drills in the sensitive passage.

The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.

China’s Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the island as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.

‘The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct. 20,’ the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement.

‘Higgins and Vancouver’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States’ and Canada’s commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle.’

China said Monday that the US and Canadian actions had disrupted ‘peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’.

‘The PLA Eastern Theater Command organised naval and air forces to monitor and remain on alert throughout the transit, handling the situation according to laws and regulations,’ military spokesperson Captain Li Xi said in a statement…”

US approves $2 bn arms sales to Taiwan including missiles

October 28, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “The US State Department on Friday approved a $2 billion arms sale package for Taiwan including advanced surface-to-air missile systems and radar, a move that could provoke Beijing.

The sale, which awaits approval by Congress, includes several anti-aircraft systems, including NASAMS and 123 missiles totaling $1.16 billion, according to the agency responsible for the sale.

The agency also announced the sale of radar systems to Taiwan worth $828 million.

The equipment will be derived from US Air Force supplies.

While the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, it is Taipei’s key partner and major provider of weapons — a point of consternation for Beijing, which has repeatedly called on Washington to stop arming the island, which it claims is part of its territory.

Beijing has regularly expressed anger at international support for Taipei and accused Washington of meddling in its affairs…”