Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun delivers a speech at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue Summit in Singapore on June 2, 2024.
Nguyen Nhac AFP | Getty Images
SINGAPORE – Chinese Defense Minister General Dong Jun has vowed that anyone who attempts to separate Taiwan from China will face “self-destruction”.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the general called on “Taiwan independence forces” to “give up their illusions and return to the right track of reunification.”
He said: “Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will only bring about his own destruction in the end.”
In response to questions, Dong reiterated China’s position that Taiwan is part of China and said Beijing was committed to peaceful reunification.
Taiwan is a democratic and self-governing island that recently took office on May 20 with a new president.
In speeches and questions and answers, Dong repeatedly accused separatist forces of eroding the “one China” principle that expresses Beijing’s view of sovereignty over Taiwan. The admiral said newly elected Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te “blatantly” expressed his Taiwanese independence ambitions in his inauguration speech.
He also accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of trying to amend Taiwan’s constitution to “erase Chinese identity”, prevent people-to-people exchanges between Taiwan and mainland China, and enhance its military capabilities to promote independence.
For decades, Taiwan Buy US Military HardwareRecent purchases include advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks, modernized F-16 fighter jets and long-range artillery systems.
“External forces”
China’s defense minister also pointed the finger at unnamed “external forces,” claiming they support Taiwanese separatists.
“We know that some major countries continue to hollow out the ‘one-China’ principle, distort facts and even misinterpret UN General Assembly resolutions,” Dong said.
Without naming a specific country, Dong also claimed that the giant country “violated its commitments to China when we established diplomatic relations.”
“They continue to test China’s red lines, such as official contacts and arms sales to Taiwan,” he said.
“This kind of behavior sends a very wrong signal to Taiwan independence forces and makes them become very aggressive. I think the purpose of foreign forces is obvious: they are trying to use Taiwan to contain China.”
The United States does not have a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan and has no obligation to defend Taiwan. but Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 — established after the United States severed diplomatic relations with Beijing — states that the United States “will provide Taiwan with such defense articles and defense services as may be required” to “enable Taiwan to maintain adequate self-defense capabilities.”
Although Dong had already devoted his speech to discussing China’s concerns about Taiwan, he continued to elaborate on these issues in his first response during the Q&A session. When the plenary chair, Bastian Giglic of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, reminded everyone to answer delegates’ questions on other issues, Dong asked to finish the answers on Taiwan, calling it “the core of our core interests.” .
He added, “In the face of the powerful People’s Liberation Army, their efforts are in vain, and their efforts will only accelerate their demise. This will only harm the interests of the Taiwanese people. This is the last thing we want to see.” China.
South China Sea tensions
Dong also touched on other issues, one of which mentioned comments by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that Killing a Filipino citizen in the South China Sea would be “very close” to an act of war.
Although the defense secretary claimed that the Philippines illegally grounded its landing ship on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, he said Beijing and Manila had been discussing and resolving the issue peacefully.
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Dong noted that the two countries have reached several agreements recognized by the current and previous Philippine governments, such as allowing supplies to the ship’s garrison. Manila deployed a resupply mission to the shoal, stationing a small force based on an aging warship that was intentionally grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s maritime claims.
“But recently, they have started not recognizing (these agreements) at all. This is a unilateral breach of their commitments… I think this is extortion and hijacking of the rules. We always talk about a sound international order, (but) I think this is even It’s not morally right,” he said.
In contrast, China’s defense minister described the China Coast Guard’s actions as “very restrained in accordance with our laws.”
“Our policy has been consistent over the past several decades. We are committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. But I would also say that there will be limits to our tolerance for deliberate provocation.”
While delegates asked questions about other issues, including Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, most of Dong’s answers focused on Taiwan and the South China Sea.
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