US urged to cease official exchanges with Taiwan

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, responds to a question at a press conference on Feb 24, 2022. (PHOTO / MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, CHINA)

BEIJING – China's Ministry of National Defense has urged the United States to stop any form of official exchange and military contact with Taiwan.

Any attempts to contain China with Taiwan or help Taiwan resist reunification by using force are doomed to fail, Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for the ministry, said at a press conference on Thursday.

The Taiwan question has always been the most important and sensitive core issue in China-US relations, and mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on the bilateral ties.

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China will continue to take firm and forceful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.  

‘No country targeted’

China's development and upgrading of its military equipment are not targeting any country or specific objective, Tan said when asked whether the country will follow the recent launch of its third aircraft carrier with the construction of more such vessels.

Development and upgrading of the military equipment won't constitute a threat to any country or any region, as they are oriented toward safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests

Tan Kefei, Spokesperson, Ministry of National Defense, China

Its future aircraft carrier plans will be considered in accordance with the demand of the country's national security and the development of its military technology, said the spokesperson.

Development and upgrading of the military equipment will not constitute a threat to any country or any region, as they are oriented toward safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests, he added.

China's nature as a socialist nation, its strategic choice of taking a path of peaceful development and its independent foreign policy of peace all determine that China will be unswervingly committed to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, he said.

Provocations of Australian, Canadian military aircraft

Replying to query regarding provocative acts of Australian and Canadian military aircraft, Tan warned that those who come uninvited will bear the consequences.

Responding to Australia and Canada's hyping up of the so-called "interceptions of their military aircraft" by the Chinese military, he said the Chinese side is justified to take forceful response measures and has handled the situation in a safe and professional manner.

The Australian military aircraft entered the airspace close to China's Xisha Islands for close-in reconnaissance, and continuously approached the territorial airspace of the Xisha Islands in disregard of China's repeated warnings. The Canadian military aircraft meanwhile have increased close-in reconnaissance and made provocations to the Chinese side in the name of implementing UN Security Council resolutions, undermining China's national security, according to Tan.

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He stressed that China firmly opposes such acts and urges relevant countries to stop spreading disinformation.

The spokesperson also urged those countries to stop activities that endanger China's national security and raise tensions in the air and sea, and take concrete actions to safeguard regional peace and stability.

China will surely take countermeasures in response to each of such provocations and those who come uninvited will bear the consequences, he said.