China to Taiwan: ‘We will get you sooner or later’—Movie line or real threat?

What did the Chinese defence ministry say?

“It is a serious miscalculation of the situation, the public opinion, and the comparison of strength,” Wu stated, as quoted by The Guardian. “Overreaching itself in such a way is extremely dangerous. We warn the DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] authorities that holding back the tide with a broom will only end up in self-destruction. We will come and get you, sooner or later.”

The remarks swiftly gained traction on Chinese social media due to its similarity to the movie’s line. In the movie ‘Ne Zha 2’, the protagonist tells a groundhog: “I will come back and get you.”

‘Ne Zha 2’ has been a massive hit in China, surpassing ‘Inside Out 2’ to become the highest-grossing film worldwide.

Notably, the film has not been released in Taiwan, as per The Guardian.

Taiwan responds

Taipei’s defence ministry responded strongly to Wu’s comments and to recent Chinese military drills near Taiwan’s southwestern coast, accusing Beijing of being the biggest “troublemaker” in the international community, reported The Guardian.

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of (the end of) World War Two, and history has proven that any form of aggression and expansion will end in failure,” Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement. “The actions of the communist military in recent years are repeating the mistakes of the invaders and pushing China towards defeat.”

Rising military tensions and the role of US

China’s military continues its modernization efforts, aiming for full-scale invasion capability. Last week, the Chinese government revised military regulations to prioritize “winning battles” and emphasized combat preparedness.

While Taiwan is strengthening its defenses, it remains significantly outmatched by China.

Historically, the United States has been Taiwan’s key ally, but uncertainty looms under Donald Trump’s second presidency.

This week, Trump refused to confirm whether the US would defend Taiwan militarily in the event of a Chinese attack. His stance aligns with the US doctrine of strategic ambiguity but marks a departure from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who repeatedly suggested the US would intervene to protect Taiwan.

(With inputs from The Guardian)