China has never renounced the use of force to bring democratically governed Taiwan under its control, viewing the island as one of its provinces.
In 1996, China lobbed missiles into the Taiwan Strait to try to intimidate the island's voters against voting for Lee Teng-hui as president, who Beijing despised for his perceived pro-independence sympathies.
That triggered the so-called Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, in which the U.S. Navy carried out a massive show of force in the strait.
Lai has said he does not seek to change the status quo, and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing.
Wu said China was preparing for a possible attack against Taiwan, including how the People's Liberation Army would deal with U.S. intervention.
Persons:
Lee Teng, Lee, William Lai, it's, Joseph Wu, Lai, Wu, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
U.S . Navy, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, People's Liberation Army, Thomson
Locations:
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Beijing, China, Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Japan, Australia, United States