The Chinese Army urged citizens to “prepare for war” in a social media post Friday that garnered thousands of likes, according to the state-sponsored Global Times.
Chinese officials have issued stark warnings of possible conflict should House Speaker Nancy Pelosi follow through with her promise to visit Taiwan in August, pledging a “forceful” response. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 80th Group Army’s post received over 300,000 thumbs-up on China’s social media platform Weibo within 12 hours “amid high morale among Chinese soldiers,” the Global Times said.
“We must bear in mind the fundamental responsibility of preparing for war and charge on the journey of a strong army,” the 80th Group Army posted in a comment that received 8,000 likes, according to Global Times.
Many users indicated strong support for the Chinese military. “PLA soldiers, fighting! We support you guys,” one of the 19,000 replies reportedly said.
Veterans pledged to return to the communist regime’s armed forces if called upon, Global Times said.
Others called for the reunification of the Taiwan Strait, a key point of tension between the U.S. and China, according to the Global Times. Both countries adhere to the “One China” policy, acknowledging Taiwan as part of a broader China, but the U.S. has an independent relationship with the self-governing island that the Chinese Communist Party rejects.
Screenshots of the Chinese Army’s post circulated on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/AZmilitary1/status/1553018461709795328
Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said Tuesday that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would “seriously violate” the One China principle and “severely endanger China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
While Chinese officials have stopped short of guaranteeing all-out war with the U.S. on the grounds of Pelosi’s Taiwan trip, Kefei said that “the Chinese military will never sit idle by, and will certainly take strong and resolute measures to thwart any interference by external forces and secessionist attempts for ‘Taiwan independence’, and firmly defend China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The 80th Group Army’s post began circulating near the same time President Joe Biden held a 2.5-hour phone call with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, where they discussed tensions over Taiwan’s status. Biden reaffirmed his support for the One China policy.
The U.S. military warned Pelosi of the possible national security risks of visiting Taiwan Wednesday, Reuters reported, while escalating troop movements in the South Pacific in preparation for any possible conflict. Pelosi invited other lawmakers to accompany her, including Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who could not confirm whether Pelosi will make her trip.
The visit “is bound to cause extremely serious harm to the relations between the two countries and their militaries, and lead to further escalation of tension across the Taiwan Straits,” Kefei said.
The US gov. just did something business wise that China won’t like. I think this is posturing. They’ll get them to give in on the business issue and then what happens with Taiwan? More nothing.
Why would they bother to invade Taiwan? Once the US is bankrupt Taiwan will want to join the mainland. They don’t have to fire a shot. They can “win without fighting” like Sun Tzu said.
They don’t make much of a study of Clausewitz over there, but they all know Sun Tzu.
Pelosi isn’t going to Taiwan now. She backed off the plan when threatened by The CCP.
Wouldn’t want any interruptions to cocktail hours.
Threatening the US???? Tell them to pound sand and let us stop buying made in China products.
Biden is determined to get us into WWIII.
Hey CCP, plane with Piglosi is due to land in Taiwan Tuesday night so be on alert please