China’s military announces it is prioritizing combat readiness by April 1

• China’s People’s Liberation Army says its prioritizing combat readiness and announces several changes, effective April 1. The State Council Information Office posted a release on the People’s Republic of China website, stating the rules aim to transform the military into world-class armed forces, focusing on combat readiness.
• In 1949, China and Taiwan split during a civil war. Taiwan operates separately from China, though it never formally declared independence.
• The State Department has not yet responded to the latest developments.

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China’s People’s Liberation Army said it is prioritizing combat readiness and announces several changes, effective April 1. The State Council Information Office posted a release on the People’s Republic of China website, stating the rules aim to transform the military into world-class armed forces.

“The revisions to the regulations prioritize combat readiness as the foremost duty, with a fundamental orientation of preparing for and engaging in warfare,” the release added.

On Feb. 17, China’s Foreign Ministry responded to the United States removing a line from a U.S. State Department fact sheet opposing independence for Taiwan. The State Department never commented on why the line was removed.

Taiwan’s response

During the week of Feb. 17, Taiwan responded to China’s anger at the United States.

“Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain, directly facing an authoritarian threat,” Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said. “But we will not be intimidated. We will stand firm and safeguard our national sovereignty, maintain our free and democratic way of life, and uphold peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Why is the United States involved?

In 1949, China and Taiwan split during a civil war. Those who disagreed with the Chinese Communist Party fled to Taiwan, which now operates separately from China, even though it never formally declared independence. The Taiwan Strait, an important trade route, divides the two.

The 1979 U.S. Taiwan Relations Act was created to maintain commercial, cultural and other relations without official government representation or formal diplomatic relations. Government sources show today Taiwan is the U.S.’s seventh-largest trading partner.

This is not the first time the State Department removed the phrase in question from the fact sheet on its website. In 2022, it removed the same phrase but put it back up following condemnation by China.

Straight Arrow News reached out to the State Department to get the latest on these developments. As of Monday, Feb. 24, the State Department has not responded.