China Accuses Taiwan of Exaggerating Military Threat Ahead of Elections

Taiwan's Presidential Election to be Decided by Domestic Concerns Amid China's Reunification Claims

China has accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party of exaggerating the military threat from Beijing for electoral gains ahead of the island's January elections.
China's Defense Ministry spokesperson, Col. Wu Qian, stated that China’s armed forces would “as always take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Taiwan's 23 million people overwhelmingly favor maintaining the island's de-facto independent status, leaving the Jan. 13 polls to be decided largely by concerns over housing prices, health care, employment and education.
China's President Xi Jinping has reiterated his stance that the “reunification” of Taiwan with China is “inevitable,” and has warned against any attempts to separate Taiwan from China.
Taiwan's presidential front runner William Lai Ching-te has claimed his Kuomintang rival’s embrace of the Communist Party and “one China” is dividing the self-ruled island.