Update: China blasts US defense act for playing up 'China threat' and poisoning bilateral ties
A soldier looks through binoculars during combat exercises and training of the navy of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the waters around the Taiwan island, August 5, 2022. Photo: Xinhua
The US passage of National Defense Authorization Act, which plays up the "China threat" theory in disregard of the facts, not only undermines China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also poisons bilateral and military relations. The US should refrain from implementing the negative China-related provisions, multiple Chinese departments urged.
Multiple departments, including the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), have voiced opposition over the US' National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which contains a large number of negative provisions targeting China.
The provisions of the act groundlessly paint China as a threat and recklessly interfere in China's internal affairs to find excuses for the US to increase military spending and maintain hegemony, said Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.
For a period of time the US has tried to obscure, hollow out and distort the one-China principle, frequently sold arms to Taiwan island, leveled up its military collusion with the region, and concocted Taiwan-related bills and documents that undermined China's sovereignty, Tan said. These moves will only harm peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and raise the risk of military confrontation between China and the US, Tan said.
Photo:VCG
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council urged on Saturday those in the US to immediately correct their wrong words and deeds on the Taiwan question, and warned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in the Taiwan island that relying on the US to seek "independence" is a dead end.
Taiwan island is China's Taiwan island and the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs. As a domestic law of the US, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 blatantly makes irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan question, even including the provision of military financing and arms sales to the island, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a statement.
This move has seriously violated the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three China-US Joint Communiqués, betraying the political promises the US made to China over the Taiwan question as well as seriously interfering with China's internal affairs. It sends a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and severely affects peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, the spokesperson said, expressing strong displeasure and firm opposition.
You Wenze, a spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC, underlined that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
Taiwan has no status under international law other than being part of China, which is not only a historical and legal fact that cannot be changed, but also a status quo that cannot be challenged, You noted.
For a period, some people in the US have intensified their wrong words and deeds on the Taiwan question. The new act stipulates that the US government will provide Taiwan with $10 billion as military aid and $2 billion as military loans within five years, and will accelerate arms sales to Taiwan island. This further indicates that some forces in the US are trying to support the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces with arms in the military, provoking confrontations across the Taiwan Straits and pushing the two sides of the Straits to the brink of war, Zhu said.
For the political purpose of "Taiwan independence," the DPP authorities stubbornly rely on the US to resist the mainland and seek independence regardless of the well-being of the people in the island, she noted.
She also warned the DPP authorities that "Taiwan independence" has no hope, and relying on the US to seek independence is a dead end. No one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature, and always takes concrete actions to safeguard world peace, promote common development and build a community with a shared future for humanity, Tan said, stressing that China's armed forces have always been a staunch force for world peace and stability.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army will resolutely defend the reunification and territorial integrity of the motherland, Tan said.China urges the US to take an objective and rational view of the development of China's national defense and armed forces, respect China's core interests and major concerns, and jointly implement the consensus between the two heads of the state, Tan said.
"We strongly urge the US to abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality and refrain from implementing the negative China-related provisions in the relevant act," You said.
You warned that the US should not underestimate China's firm will and strong ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It should avoid taking risks on issues concerning China's sovereignty and core interests.
Any provocation that attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine China's interests will be met with firm countermeasures, You said.
Global Times
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