Writing in the influential state-run newspaper the Study Times, Liu Junchuan, who heads the liaison office of China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, said it was inevitable Taiwan would come under China’s control. “The contrast in power across the Taiwan Strait will become wider and wider, and we will have a full, overwhelming strategic advantage over Taiwan,” Liu added. Taiwan says Beijing does not understand what democracy is and that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future. Taiwan hopes to find “natural way” to engage with China’s XiTsai says she wants peace with China but will defend Taiwan’s security and democracy. China has stepped up military drills around Taiwan and squeezed Taiwan’s international space, siphoning off its few remaining diplomatic allies.

Source: The Express Tribune December 25, 2017 07:18 UTC