China vows 'fight to the end' to stop Taiwan independence; issues on South China Sea also high on agenda

The Australian Department of Defence shows Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles (left) meeting with China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore. - AFP

SINGAPORE, June 12, 2022 (AFP): China will "fight to the very end" to stop Taiwanese independence, the country's defence minister vowed Sunday, stoking already soaring tensions with the United States over the island.

The superpowers are locked in a growing war of words over the self-ruled, democratic island, which Beijing views as part of its territory awaiting reunification.