China’s military says will ‘crush’ any Taiwan ‘independence’ efforts

BEIJING: China's military on Friday vowed to "crush" any efforts to promote Taiwan's independence, a day before a crucial election on the self-ruled island which Beijing claims is part of its territory.

“The Chinese People's Liberation Army maintains high vigilance at all times and will take all necessary measures to firmly crush ´Taiwan independence´ attempts of all forms,” defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement.

Zhang accused Taiwan´s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of pushing the island “toward the dangerous conditions of war” by purchasing arms from the United States.

Taiwan´s bustling democracy of 23 million people is separated by a narrow 180-kms strait from communist-ruled China, which has vowed to retake the island one day.

Saturday´s presidential contest is being closely watched around the world as the winner will lead the strategically important island -- a major producer of vital semiconductors -- as it manages ties with an increasingly assertive China.

Beijing in recent years has maintained a near-daily military presence around Taiwan, sending in warplanes and ships to its surroundings in so-called “grey zone” harassment actions which fall short of outright provocation.

The weeks leading up to Saturday´s vote have also seen a flurry of Chinese balloons crossing the Taiwan Strait´s sensitive median line, which Taipei authorities have slammed as a form of interference in the crucial poll.