BEIJING, June 29 -- The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, and also the most significant issue and risk in China-US relations, said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon.
It is reported that the committees on armed services in the US Senate and House of Representatives have separately passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to further advance military cooperation with the Taiwan region. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Blinken recently said Washington did not support "Taiwan independence", but opposed any unilateral change to the status quo by either side.
As for the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Defense Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang stressed that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been and will never be divided.
The spokesperson also remarked that for some time, external forces have tried all means to "contain China with Taiwan" and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have been harboring the illusion of "seeking independence with American support". "It is they who are sabotaging the status quo and aggravating tension across the Taiwan Strait," added the spokesperson.
He clearly stated that how to resolve the Taiwan question is the Chinese people's own affair, which allows no interference from external forces. "The US side should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and fulfill its commitment to not supporting 'Taiwan independence', rather than saying one thing and doing another," he said.
The spokesperson sternly warned that the Chinese PLA has the ability and confidence to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to firmly smash "Taiwan independence" secession and external interference attempts.
