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Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun (center) walks out after a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2024. Photo: VCG

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Sunday reiterated China’s firm stance on the Taiwan question during a speech delivered at the Shangri-La Dialogue, warning that anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will be engaging in an act of self-destruction.

Dong stressed that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, and that the one-China principle has long become a universally recognized international relations norm.

“But what we are seeing now is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan are pursuing “Taiwan independence” in an incremental way, as they are bent on desinicization in Taiwan and severing social, historical and cultural links across the Taiwan Straits. Those fanatical separatist statements have revealed their betrayal of the Chinese nation and their ancestors, and will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history,” Dong said.

At the same time, some external interfering forces keep hollowing out the one-China principle with a “salami-slicing” approach, as they have created Taiwan-related bills and continued to sell arms to the island of Taiwan, engaging in illegal official contacts with the island, Dong said, noting that in fact, what they are doing is to embolden “Taiwan independence” separatists in attempt to contain China with the Taiwan question.

These malicious intentions are dragging Taiwan into a dangerous situation, Dong said.

Dong reiterated that China's handling of the Taiwan question in accordance with the law is entirely a matter of China’s internal affairs, which brooks no foreign interference.

While China remains committed to a peaceful reunification, this prospect is increasingly being eroded by “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces and external forces, as the danger of national secession always exists, Dong said.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will remain a strong and overwhelming force in safeguarding national unity, as it will take timely, resolute and powerful actions to curb “Taiwan independence” and make sure such a plot never succeeds, the defense minister said.

Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China is engaging in self-destruction and bound to be smashed to pieces, Dong said.

Global Times