The head of the Chinese Defense Ministry has intensified the conflict with Taiwan by using strong language to criticize outside forces interfering with the One China policy, including Taiwanese separatists.
According to Bloomberg News on the 2nd, Defense Minister Wei Fenghe raised his voice in the 221st Asian Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) China session, saying that Taiwanese separatists and external forces increasingly weaken the prospect of peaceful unification with Taiwan. Wei stated that Taiwan is the “core issue among the core” of China, but the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan is trying to erase China’s identity by pursuing separatism. He said, “Taiwanese separatists have recently made fanatical remarks showing betrayal of the Chinese nation and ancestors,” and “They will be nailed to the shameful pillar of history.”
Wei also criticized foreign forces, like the United States, for interfering in what he called China’s domestic issues and inciting Taiwanese separatists. China has repeatedly expressed anger at the fact that the U.S. sells and supports weapons to Taiwan, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei. Wei said, “They are selling a lot of weapons to Taiwan, and such actions send a very wrong signal to Taiwanese independence forces and make them aggressive.” He continued, “The real purpose of foreign forces is clearly to use Taiwan to contain China.” He then emphasized, “We will take firm measures to suppress Taiwan’s independence and ensure that such a conspiracy never succeeds. We are very confident in our ability to prevent Taiwan’s independence.” According to Chinese media such as China Central TV (CCTV), Wei also made a harsh remark, saying, “Anyone who dares to try to separate Taiwan from China will break their body and bones into powder and bring about their destruction.”
Bloomberg pointed out that Wei received many questions in the session, but focused solely on Taiwan to the extent that the moderator had to request him to mention other issues. Despite strong opposition from the Taiwanese government, China considers Taiwan its territory. Especially after Lai Ching Te, who China considers a separatist, took office on the 20th of last month, China was angered and even conducted war exercises throughout Taiwan.
The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s agency in charge of affairs with China, immediately protested Wei’s remarks and issued a statement, saying, “China lacks the confidence to talk with the Taiwanese government, and irrational remarks cannot gain international recognition.” It also expressed deep regret over Wei’s “provocative and irrational” remarks, repeatedly emphasizing that the People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan. Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te has repeatedly proposed dialogue with China but has been continuously rejected.
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