Chinese military slams DPP over US arms sale

Any attempt by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party to conspire with foreign forces and pursue secession is doomed to fail, the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday, adding the People's Liberation Army will take every measure necessary to thwart these plots and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesman of the ministry, made the comment in response to the United States' recent plan to sell the Paladin M109A6 howitzers cannon artillery system to Taiwan. If approved, it will be the first arms sale to the island by the current US administration.

Tan said the Taiwan question is a matter of China's domestic affairs, and the Chinese military resolutely opposes any country selling arms to or have any form of military interactions with the island.

"The US arms deal has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and has sent a severely erroneous signal to Taiwan separatist forces," he said.

China urges the US to refrain from interfering in other countries' domestic affairs in accordance with basic principles of international relations highlighted in the United Nations Charter and the Declaration on Principles of International Law, he added.

The US should uphold its solemn promise made to China regarding the Taiwan question, properly and carefully handle Taiwan-related affairs, cease any form of official and military interactions, and stop its arms sale to the island, Tan said.

As for the DPP, Tan said it is conspiring with foreign forces, betraying the interests of the Chinese people and even fantasizing using the military forces to pursue its secession agenda. "These actions will only push Taiwan compatriots into the abyss of disasters," he said.

In response to Japan tying the situation in Taiwan to its own national security in its 2021 defense white paper, Tan said Japan has blatantly interfered in China's domestic affairs, hyped the so-called "China military threat", and criticized China's legal and justified maritime activities.

"Japan should remember the disasters it brought to the Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, when it launched its invasion into China," Tan said. "We urge Japan to learn from history, speak and act appropriately on questions related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and work with China to move bilateral relations in the right direction."

In the white paper, Japan also accused China of coercion by sending vessels around the Diaoyu islands, which Japan claims as its territory. In response, Tan said the islands are Chinese territory with strong support from a historical and legal basis.

The islands were illegally seized by Imperial Japan in 1895 during the First Sino-Japanese War, but were returned to China after World War II ended based on the 1943 Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration in 1945, he said.

"Chinese vessels conducting patrols near Diaoyu islands is an exercise of national sovereignty in accordance with law," Tan said. "International law is an instrument of fairness for the world, it is not something that a self-serving country can challenge by talking nonsense."

"Japan accusing China's maritime activities as violating international laws has actually exposed its own blatant contempt of international laws," Tan said.

When commenting on the US pushing for its Indo-Pacific strategy with its allies to contain China, Tan said hyping up threats and confrontation will only increase tension in the region and undermine world peace and stability.

No strategy should try to build a military alliance that is selective and exclusive in nature, nor should it try to form a coterie, divide the world into a "new Cold War", and engage in a zero-sum game, Tan said.

As for US military calling for more communication hotlines with its Chinese counterpart, Tan said the purpose of these hotlines is to enhance trust and solve misunderstandings, manage risks and prevent conflicts.

"However, the US cannot call for building more hotlines on one hand, yet on the other hand intensifying its military presence and close reconnaissance around China," Tan said.

"We urge the US to act in accordance with its words, and show sincerity in working with China to enhance dialogue, properly manage differences and facilitate a healthy development of China-US military relations."