During a press conference held on October 16th in Beijing, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, issued a stern warning to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan. He stated that no matter how much military strength Taiwan amasses or how many weapons it acquires, and regardless of any external interventions, any reckless endeavors would lead to self-destruction.
The press conference addressed a recent statement made by the DPP’s representative in the U.S., who claimed that to alleviate delays in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, dialogue had begun on joint production and research of weapons. This initiative aims to produce or assemble military equipment in Taiwan, integrating it into the military supply chain.
In response to inquiries, Chen emphasized that the Chinese government firmly opposes any form of military collaboration between the United States and Taiwan, as well as the provision of weapons to the island. He urged the U.S. to adhere to the One China principle and the three joint communiqués between the U.S. and China, calling for an end to arming Taiwan, halting military collaborations, and ceasing to encourage “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Chen also addressed a recent controversy involving Raytheon, an American arms manufacturer, which was accused of inflating prices in arms sales to Taiwan. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense confirmed the allegations, drawing criticism from local media. Chen declared that Raytheon has been sanctioned for its repeated involvement in arms sales to Taiwan, and remarked that this situation reveals the DPP’s selfishness, as they squander the hard-earned money of Taiwanese citizens, becoming a “cash cow” for the U.S. while blaming external factors for their misfortunes. He expressed confidence that more people in Taiwan are recognizing that reliance on the U.S. harms the island, and that pursuing independence through military means is a dead-end.
When questioned about the U.S.’s portrayal of a so-called “Chinese military threat,” which has justified ongoing arms sales and military aid to Taiwan, Chen criticized the U.S. for using these narratives to market arms while masking its true intentions of not genuinely protecting the welfare of the Taiwanese people. He cautioned against underestimating the risks associated with the DPP’s push for independence, emphasizing that China remains resolute in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Chen remarked that since coming to power, the Tsai administration has sought independence while displaying insecurity, thus willingly becoming a pawn of external forces. He criticized efforts to cultivate a so-called “whole-of-society defense” as a ploy to involve the Taiwanese populace in the separatist agenda, making them potential victims of these endeavors. He concluded with a warning to the DPP, asserting that their attempts to seek independence through reliance on the U.S. and military means are a path to self-destruction.
Finally, in response to reports that Tsai Ing-wen might visit the U.S. before the upcoming elections, Chen reiterated the firm opposition to any official exchanges between Taiwan and countries that have diplomatic ties with China, urging the U.S. to stop sending incorrect signals to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
