Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense. Photo: Ministry of National Defense

Several pieces of US weaponry won’t be the magic straw that can save a drowning man; they are nothing but easy targets on the battlefields, said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang at a regular press conference on Thursday, in response to reports that the first batch of M1A2T battle tanks purchased by Taiwan from the US arrived at the island.  

We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, earnestly honor its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence”, immediately stop arming Taiwan, and stop its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. We warn the DPP authorities that seeking independence by soliciting US support is doomed to failure, and resorting to force to resist reunification leads nowhere, Zhang said.

“The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist plot and foreign interference,” the spokesperson said.

Regarding the claims made by the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command that China is demonstrating and working on improving its power, …and he has the responsibility under the TRA to be ready for any change to the status quo, Zhang also said that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs and no external forces are allowed to interfere.

The PLA has the confidence and ability to thwart all external interference, crush the "Taiwan independence" separatist plot, and achieve the complete reunification of the motherland, Zhang said.

When asked to comment about reports on claims by officials and experts on the island of Taiwan that the mainland's low-key military exercises will become a new tactic against Taiwan region, based on which to normalize military deployments towards Taiwan and conveying a message to the US, Japan, the Philippines and others that the mainland can take action against Taiwan at any time, sending a signal of "do not intervene in a Taiwan Straits crisis,” Zhang said that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan that tolerates no external interference.

"Taiwan independence" forces don't really need to think too much about how the PLA strikes "independence" activities and promotes reunification. "Resisting reunification by force" is a dead end, and the more provocatively the secessionists pursue "independence", the tighter the noose around their necks will be, Zhang said.

Global Times