An official statement by Beijing released on Friday November 25, 2016 forewarned any military ties with Taiwan, this follows diplomacy issues caused by troop carriers found in a container en route to Singapore from the “breakaway province” of China, reported Reuters.
The shipments have been seized by Hong Kong customs after nine troop carriers and more military equipment was discovered in the containers; the Chinese government forbids the semi-autonomous province from any military exchange with nations that have diplomatic ties with China; Singapore has played host to talks between Beijing and Taipei in the past.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, Foreign Minister for China, referred to the defence military official statement when questioned: “The entry and exit of foreign personnel and goods in the Hong Kong special administrative region should respect its relevant laws.
“I wish to reiterate that the Chinese government consistently and resolutely opposes any form of official exchanges, including military exchanges and cooperation, between countries with which we have diplomatic relations and the Taiwan region.”
There continues a battle of will regarding the shipments; Hong Kong refuses to return them as investigations take place, Singapore in the mean time is battling to have the shipments returned,
This diplomatic incident is the latest in a long line of problems for the region, which is in the midst of a long standing conflict over the territory of the South China Sea.
The sea is rich in both natural gases and minerals, and is both strategic for trade and military benefits; recently the Hague passed a controversial motion that China does not lay claim to its entirety, a motion which China refuses to acknowledge.
Many clashes occur between China and other ASEAN nations, usually involving collisions between Chinese ships and local fishing vessels, the more recent developments of man-made islands by China has been antagonistic in the dispute.
