By He Ruo
何若
It is reported that the US government recently approved a US$567 million military assistance to China's Taiwan region, which will fund training, anti-armor weapons and UAVs. In response, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense urged the US side to stop its duplicity towards China, stop its "two-faced" actions on the Taiwan question, and stop arming Taiwan to avoid further disrupting and sabotaging the relations between China and the US and their militaries.
据报道，美国政府日前批准向中国台湾地区提供价值约5.67亿美元的军事援助，主要用于培训、反装甲、无人机等项目。对此，我国防部回应称，我们敦促美方停止以“两副面孔”对华，改变在台湾问题上的“两面派”做法，停止武装台湾，以免对两国两军关系造成进一步干扰破坏。
America's arms sales to the Taiwan region have been a chronic barrier to the normal development of China-US relations as they epitomize the US side's violation of the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. In their joint communiqué issued on August 17th, 1982, the US government promised that "it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution", which, however, has turned out meaningless. Since the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties, the US has sold weapons to China's Taiwan region for more than 100 times, totaling over US$70 billion. This has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and security interests, gravely endangered cross-Strait peace and stability, and sent wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. In the past two years, the Biden administration has been reiterating its commitment to not supporting "Taiwan independence" on the one hand and continuously increasing its arms sales to Taiwan on the other – nearly 20 such arms sales programs have been approved by it since Biden was sworn in. The US government has no international credibility left whatsoever, given its immunity to qualms when breaking its words and trampling upon its promises.
对台军售是美国违反一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报的集中体现，一直是干扰中美关系正常发展的痼疾。早在1982年中美“八•一七”联合公报中，美国政府就承诺逐步减少售台武器，并经过一段时间直至最后的解决。但事实上，上述承诺几成一纸空文，数据显示，自中美建交以来，美国对台军售已超百次，总额超700亿美元，严重损害中国主权和安全利益，严重危害台海和平稳定，向“台独”分裂势力发出严重错误信号。这两年，拜登政府一边信誓旦旦宣称不支持“台独”，一边一再加码对台军售。据统计，拜登政府上台以来批准的对台军售计划已逼近20项。公然背信弃义、践踏诺言而毫无心理负担，美国政府哪还有什么国际信用可言？
The US is bent on "arming Taiwan" for multiple vicious purposes. On the strategic level, it wants to root for "Taiwan independence" separatists and consequently contain China with the island. Despite being diverted by the Ukraine crisis and the Palestine-Israel conflict, it has doubled up on playing the "Taiwan card" in the illusion of using it as an excuse to stir up trouble in the Asia Pacific and consequently contain China. On the practical level, the US just cannot give up the steady arms orders from Taiwan. Indeed, where can it find a better deal since it is completely up to the US to decide what to sell and at what price? No wonder the weapons it sells to Taiwan are known for being exorbitantly costly and outdated.
美国执意“武装台湾”，有着多重邪恶目的。战略层面，美国企图以此为“台独”势力撑腰打气，进而“以台制华”。在乌克兰危机和巴以冲突等牵扯了很多精力的情况下，美国变本加厉打起“台湾牌”，幻想利用台湾问题在亚太地区挑起事端，遏制中国。现实利益层面，这份军火生意“长期订单”，美国也舍不得丢。要知道，美国对台军售是彻头彻尾的“卖方市场”，卖什么，以什么价格，全由美国单方面说了算。于是乎，美国售台武器也就有了“天价”和“废旧”两个“驰名商标”。
For instance, Taiwan's so-called "legislative chamber" passed a bill in 2019 to spend US$8 billion buying 66 F-16V fighters from the US. Not only was the unit price for this "generation-3.5" fighter – US$120 million – far above the market price, but it was higher than the price of America's fifth-generation F35, and the aircraft won't be delivered until 2026. Here is a more appalling example. A recent DoD report exposed quality issues with the weapons it provided to Taiwan last December, including outdated ammunition and moldy bullet-proof vests. The US is taking Taiwan as a "dump site" where it can clear its inventory and dump the weapons it no longer wants, making the DPP a laughing stock, who imagines it could ride on America's coattails, only to find itself paying fortunes for its craps. Even so, the DPP has to act all grateful, trying its best to serve as a satisfactory fool with a deep pocket.
比如在2019年，台“立法院”通过法案，花80亿美元向美国购买66架F-16V战机，这款“三代半”战机1.2亿美元的单价不但远超“市场价”，甚至超过了美国五代机F35的造价，且要2026年才能到货。再如，美国国防部日前公布了一份报告，自曝去年12月给台湾提供的军备出现质量管控问题，弹药过期、防弹背心发霉不一而足。清库存、丢垃圾的“骚操作”，让台军成为“废品回收站”，更使民进党当局沦为笑柄——自以为“抱上大腿”，实则砸锅卖铁“收破烂”。即便如此，民进党当局还作感激涕零状，生动诠释了怎样才是一个合格的冤大头。
The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and is the first red line in China-US relations that must not be crossed. No one should underestimate China's firm resolve and powerful capability of opposing "Taiwan independence" and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No amount of weapons dumped by the US on the Taiwan region will ever stop the historical process of China's reunification – not in the least. At present, American military vessels and aircraft are being intercepted more often in the Taiwan Strait, and the Chinese PLA's military deterrence on the island in the form of patrols and exercises has become a normal practice. The more intensive moves by anti-China forces and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces will only be met with firmer countermeasures. It's been repeatedly proven that the attempt to "contain China with Taiwan" and "reject reunification through the use of force" will only accelerate the process of China's reunification.
台湾问题是中国核心利益中的核心，是中美关系第一条不可逾越的红线。任何人都不要低估中方反对“台独”、捍卫国家主权和领土完整的坚定意志和强大能力。无论美国向台湾倾销多少武器，都阻止不了中国统一的历史进程。从美国军舰、军机在台海被拦截的次数越来越多，到中国人民解放军绕岛巡航、围岛锁台军事慑压渐成常态，反华势力、“台独”分子闹得越欢，我们反制举措的跟进就会越坚决、越有力。事实说明，“以台制华”“以武拒统”，只会进一步加速中国统一的历史进程。
It's dangerous to be America's enemy, and lethal to be its ally. Whatever fancy name it calls it – arms sales, military assistance, or financing, all that America has ever given Taiwan is just a pile of unwanted metals and empty promises. The clowns, who bank on foreign support and dream of rejecting reunification through the use of force, and who are splurging Taiwan people's hard-earned money for an illusion of America's protection, are pushing the island almost over the cliff.
做美国的敌人是危险的，做美国的盟友是致命的。无论冠以“军售”“军援”还是“融资”，或是打着其他什么名号，美国给台湾的不过是一堆自己不想要的东西和虚假的承诺。那群“挟洋自重”“以武拒统”的丑角，拿岛内民众的血汗钱进贡，只是把台湾一步步往火坑里推。
The reunification of China is what the Chinese people all wish for, and what the Chinese PLA is capable of realizing. Recently, the Chinese government has organized the safe evacuation of 215 Chinese nationals in two batches from Lebanon to ensure their personal and property safety. A Taiwan compatriot said in an interview, "We evacuated together, as Chinese nationals. I always know China is my motherland. I didn't just think of it for the evacuation." Such patriotism, such love for the motherland, shared by 1.4 billion people, will amount to an overwhelming and unstoppable historical trend.
祖国统一，是实力使然，更是民心所向。日前，为保护中国公民人身财产安全，中国政府组织了两批次共215名中国公民从黎巴嫩安全撤离。有台湾同胞接受采访时表示，“我们就是一起撤的，一个身份一起撤的，中国人的身份。我一直都知道我们的motherland（祖国）就是中国，不是撤离的时候才这么想的。”这样涓涓民意，乘以14多亿，汇聚起的就是滔滔洪流。
It is an international consensus that there is but one China in the world. Any interference in another country's internal affairs is against the trend of the times. This principle goes for arms sales to Taiwan, and also for China-US relations. The US side will get itself burnt if it insists on playing with fire.
“一个中国”是国际社会压倒性共识，干涉别国内政的举动是逆流而动。这个道理不但适用于对台军售，也是中美相处的基本原则。美方若执意玩火，最终只会引火烧身。
Editor's note: Originally published on bjd.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
