Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense. [Photo/mod.gov.cn]
China expressed its serious concern and firm opposition to military exchanges between Taiwan and the United States, which “has been repeatedly reneging on its commitments and frequently implementing arms sales” to the island, a defense spokesman said on Thursday.
Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to recent US arms sales to Taiwan.
This month, the US House of Representatives passed the 2024 Defense Authorization Bill, which includes provisions to accelerate the provision of asymmetric weapons to Taiwan and invite Taiwan to participate in the Rim of the Pacific military exercises.
In addition, during a meeting held in Monterey earlier this month, the US and Taiwan reached an agreement on the purchase of surface-to-air missile systems.
Tan said that the US clearly recognizes in the Aug. 17 Communique that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China, and that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China.
The US has also clearly pledged not to seek long-term arms sales to Taiwan and gradually reduce arms sales to the island until the situation is ultimately resolved, he said.
“However, the US has repeatedly reneged on its commitments, frequently conducted arms sales to Taiwan, and strengthened military contacts with the island. These malicious acts have seriously damaged China’s national sovereignty and security, posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and created significant strategic risks in China-US military relations,” he said, stressing that the Taiwan question is an internal affair, and that China does not tolerate foreign interference.
The spokesman warned that Taiwan’s security depends on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and that “Taiwan independence” is a “fire” that will bring “disaster to peace across the Strait”.
“Any words or actions that advocate strengthening US-Taiwan military contacts and arms sales to Taiwan will only escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and increase the risk of conflict, which would essentially harm Taiwan and destroy Taiwan,” Tan said.
