Any attempt at secession 'means war'

National Defense spokesman urges US to abide by one-China principle

The reunification of China is inevitable, and Taiwan secession means war, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said on Thursday.

He said the United States has recently increased its military and diplomatic activities with Taiwan, from transporting senators on a military aircraft to the island early this month to the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sailing through the Taiwan Straits on Tuesday.

As a result, the Chinese military has organized multiple drills in the region, which are necessary measures to address the current situation in the Taiwan Straits and to protect national sovereignty, Ren said.

Ren said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and the Taiwan question is purely China's domestic affair. "China resolutely opposes any form of official interactions and military exchanges between the US and Taiwan," he said.

China also strongly opposes the US using the Taiwan question to pressure China, and Taiwan separatist forces relying on the US and using military means to resist reunification.

"The complete reunification of China is inevitable, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irresistible, and peace and stability on both sides of the Taiwan Straits is the will of the people," Ren said, adding that Taiwan secession is a dead-end that would lead to war.

"The US should sufficiently realize, no power can stop the development and growth of China," he said. The US should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and stop any form of military interactions with Taiwan.

"The prosperity and well-being of Taiwan compatriots are tied to the rejuvenation of the Chinese people," Ren said. "Any attempt to rely on the US to pursue secession is doomed to fail."

In response to the US and its allies accusing China of being a threat to the international order, Ren said a handful of countries have hyped up the so-called Chinese threat on multiple occasions, and have intentionally smeared China regarding maritime issues.

"We express our strong disapproval and adamant protests against these actions," he said.

The Cold War ended more than 30 years ago, yet the US and some Western countries still subscribe to Cold War and zero-sum-game mentalities, while upholding an exclusive coterie and hypocritical multinationalism, Ren said.

This has led to clashes of values and forced nations to fall within ideological lines, which runs against the historical trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, Ren said.

"These actions will not win hearts and are doomed to fail," he said.

Ren stressed that there is only one international order in the world, and that is based on the United Nations and international laws. China has and always will be a contributor to world peace, global development and the international order, Ren said.

China's stance on maritime questions has been clear and consistent. The Diaoyu Islands are an inseparable part of China, and China has indisputable sovereignty over islands and adjacent waters in the South China Sea, he said.

China will adamantly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, but is also willing to resolve issues peacefully via dialogue and collaboration, he said.

"We urge related countries to objectively and rationally view China and its military development, stop fanning various forms of 'China military threat' and geopolitical competitions, and put more energy into facilitating exchange and cooperation," he said.