China's state-affiliated Global Times warns Taiwan that Afghan chaos is an 'omen' for the island
State-affiliated media company Global Times warned Taiwan that the US may abandon it as it did Afghanistan.
The newspaper called the chaos there an "omen" for the island.
Taiwan's premier hit back Tuesday and said Taiwan would not collapse like Afghanistan if it were attacked.
State-affiliated Chinese tabloid Global Times said Monday in a staff editorial that the chaos in Afghanistan should be a warning for what is in store for Taiwan should the US "abandon" it.
"The situation in Afghanistan suddenly saw a radical change after the country was abandoned by the US. And Washington just left despite the worsening situation in Kabul. Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan's future fate?" wrote the commentary on Global Times.
The newspaper said Taiwan is similar to Afghanistan in that it relies heavily on US protection. It warned that the US would not come to the island's aid should a military conflict happen, saying the island's defense "will collapse in hours."
"From what happened in Afghanistan, they should perceive that once a war breaks out in the Straits, the island's defense will collapse in hours, and the US military won't come to help," it wrote.
The US does not have troops stationed in Taiwan, nor does it have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Instead, it maintains its relationship with the country via its American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as a de facto embassy. Most recently, in April, the Biden administration sent an unofficial delegation to Taiwan, with officials saying it sent "an important signal about the US commitment to Taiwan and its democracy," reported CNN.
The United States also sells arms to the region. Sales from the US to Taiwan exceeded $5 billion in 2020, per a Reuters report. This month, the Biden administration proposed a $750-million arms sale to the island, reported CNN.
Premier Su Tseng-chang on Tuesday hit back at concerns that Taiwan may end up being the next Afghanistan, saying the island will not collapse if attacked, reported Reuters. Su said what's unfolding in Afghanistan shows that external help will not make a big difference to a country that is chaotic from within.
He also warned "foreign forces" looking to invade Taiwan not to be "deluded."
"Today, there are powerful countries that want to swallow up Taiwan using force," he said, telling Reuters "we must guard this country and this land, and not be like certain people who always talk up the enemy's prestige and talk down our resolve."
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