China’s ambassador backs the right to take control of Taiwan by force

China has told Australians it reserves the right to use military force to seize control of Taiwan against the wishes of the island’s 23 million people, deepening fears of war after days of Chinese missile launches and naval drills to lay claim to the territory.

The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, said on Wednesday the use of force was an option to achieve reunification so the people of Taiwan might have the “correct understanding” of China, after the state council in Beijing said it would use “all necessary measures” to achieve reunification.

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, says Australians should “use their imagination” about whether it would use military force to seize control of Taiwan.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Speaking to the National Press Club, Xiao said Australia had a chance to reset relations with China to improve trade and clear the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping as soon as the G20 summit at the end of this year, but he said Canberra had to respect China’s claim to Taiwan.

In a speech that sparked concern from Japan and others within hours, Xiao endorsed a state council paper issued on Wednesday that said China would not renounce the use of force to take Taiwan.

“We reserve the option of taking all necessary measures,” the new document said. “Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances.”

Asked what would justify such a move, the ambassador said: “As to what is the meaning of ‘all necessary means’ - you can use your imagination. But the 1.4 billion Chinese people are absolutely determined to protect our sovereignty [and] territory, to never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.”

China began four days of military drills and missile launches in five locations around Taiwan after United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island last Wednesday, but it extended the war-like operations on Monday and continued naval patrols on Wednesday.

State broadcaster CCTV aired video of Chinese fighter jets scrambling on Wednesday and the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said the latest operations were focused on blockades and supply logistics – a claim that heightened concerns that it sought to isolate Taiwan.

US President Joe Biden has said three times over the past year that the US would defend Taiwan with military force but officials in his administration have insisted each time there was no change in the deliberate ambiguity about how the US would respond.

Xiao, who arrived in Canberra in April after four years in Indonesia and a long career in the diplomatic service, portrayed China as a stabilising force in world affairs and a partner for Australia.

“When we cooperate we both win, when we don’t we both lose,” he said.

Asked about China’s intentions towards Taiwan, Xiao did not accept the proposition that the people of Taiwan should have a say in the outcome.

“The future of Taiwan will be decided by 1.4 billion Chinese people. At the same time I believe that the majority of the people in Taiwan believe they are Chinese,” he said.

“They believe Taiwan is part of China and Taiwan is a province of China. They are for reunification.”

In fact, the majority has favoured some form of the status quo in surveys over two decades, according to the National Chengchi University’s Election Study Centre. Its June survey found that 28.6 per cent said they wanted to “maintain the status quo indefinitely” and 28.3 per cent wanted the status quo to continue until a later date, while 25.2 per cent wanted to move toward independence.

Asked if China would re-educate the people of Taiwan after unification, Xiao said: “My personal understanding is that once Chinese Taiwan comes back to the motherland, there might be a process for the people of Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China.”

He denied there was any re-education of people in Xinjiang despite reports from Human Rights Watch about the use of forced detention, torture and “political education camps” against the mostly Muslim population of the region in western China.

Asked about the Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who has been detained in China for two years on vague national security claims, the ambassador acknowledged there were Australians in detention but said: “They are under custody according to Chinese laws and their basic rights are well protected, don’t worry about that.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong raised concerns about Cheng and an Australian writer Yang Hengjun when she met her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Bali on July 8.

Xiao confirmed the interception of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 surveillance plane by a Chinese J-16 fighter on May 26 – an incident that included the release of aluminium “chaff” that could have damaged the Australian aircraft – and defended it as a warning to stay away from Chinese territory.

“Just like you’re in your house, within your compound, somebody is driving around carrying a gun and trying to beat into your window, see what you’re doing with your family … you’re entitled to feel threatened, feel uncomfortable,” he said.

“So you have to come out and tell those people to keep distant.”

He downplayed the chances of a meeting between Albanese and Xi at the G20 in Bali later this year, saying it would happen when there was confidence in a more positive relationship.

“As ambassador, I’m hoping for the best. And I’m going to make my own efforts toward that direction.”

Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami said he was “a bit surprised and concerned” at the remarks from his Chinese counterpart that missed an opportunity to reset relations.

“I’m concerned at the increasingly loose usage of words,” Yamagami told journalists in the press gallery of Parliament House after watching Xiao’s speech.

“I think ‘use of force’ is the last word to be employed by diplomats, agents of peace. We are here to de-escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait yet we are seeing an escalation of tensions. I’m increasingly worried.”

Japan was also concerned that Xiao claimed missiles fell into disputed waters when Japan claims those waters as part of its exclusive economic zone.

“How come missiles have to be shot across Taiwan into the East China Sea in response to a US politician’s visit to Taipei? I just cannot get it,” Yamagami said.

“This is the water between Taiwan and Japanese islands off the coast of Okinawa – it is the Japanese side of the median line. We are convinced five missiles landed in Japanese waters.”

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