The Chinese defense minister has told a security forum that China’s army would “forcefully” stop “Taiwan independence.” Taiwan has slammed his comments, calling them “provocative and irrational.”
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warned on Sunday that attempts to separate Taiwan from China would be “crushed and bring about their own downfall,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore, Dong’s comments come just a week after heightened tensions over Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. He emphasized that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army would act “resolutely and forcefully” to prevent Taiwan’s independence, criticizing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party for pursuing separatism and undermining the island’s Chinese identity.
Dong accused Taiwan’s leadership of betraying the Chinese nation and ancestors, asserting they would be remembered with shame in history. He also pointed to foreign powers, implicitly referencing the U.S., for “emboldening Taiwan separatists” and undermining the “One China” principle through tactics like selling arms to Taiwan. Despite expressing a commitment to peaceful reunification, Dong argued that the actions of “Taiwan independence forces” were thwarting this possibility, suggesting that external influences were using Taiwan to contain China.
