China accuses Taiwan of ‘hyping up’ military threat ahead of elections

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's vice president and the ruling DPP's presidential candidate, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan [File: Ann Wang/Reuters]

China has accused Taiwan of deliberately “hyping up” a military threat from Beijing for electoral gains ahead of the island’s January polls.

“The Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] authorities are deliberately hyping up the so-called ‘military threat from the mainland’ and exaggerating tensions,” China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday.