BEIJING: China on Friday urged the U.S. to stop arming China’s Taiwan region and cease all forms of official exchanges and military contacts with the region.
The remarks were made by Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, in response to reports that the White House budget proposal for the 2025 Financial Year included a $100 million item in dedicated funding for Taiwan and that U.S. Army Green Beret advisors have begun being permanently stationed in the region.
Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and is the number one red line that must not be crossed between China and the U.S., said Zhang.
He noted that the United States has recently released seriously erroneous signals to separatists seeking “Taiwan independence” and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, through moves including arms sales and military assistance. He warned that “Whoever in the world connive at and support ‘Taiwan independence’ will get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing.”
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has always maintained a high degree of vigilance, will resolutely defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and defeat “Taiwan independence” forces and external interference, the spokesperson added.
