China will ‘never be soft’ on foreign interference, PLA official warns - South China Morning Post

Speaking during a press conference, Jing said: “The PLA will never stop enhancing combat readiness, never stop our fight against Taiwan independence forces and never be soft on defeating external interference.”

Jing said that the United States had “betrayed its promise, hollowed out the one-China principle” and armed the island.

Describing the situation in the Taiwan Strait as “grim”, he added that “Taiwan independence means war”.

Jing also accused Taiwan’s new leader William Lai Ching-te of pushing the island towards the “abyss of disaster” and being “the main culprit” in undermining the status quo in cross-strait ties.

Beijing viewed Lai’s inauguration speech last month as provocative. Days later, the PLA kicked off two days of large-scale military drills around the island. The exercises drew concerns from several countries, including the US.

02:16

Defence ministers from China and US meet on sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

Defence ministers from China and US meet on sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

China’s new Defence Minister Dong Jun held his first face-to-face meeting with Austin on the sidelines of the forum on Friday. During the talks, Dong accused Washington of sending the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces.

Two PLA military vessels entered restricted waters off the Taiwan-controlled island of Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, on Wednesday, the Taiwanese military said on Saturday.

The PLA’s recent exercise was a “rehearsal” for possible combat operations against Taiwan in the future, said PLA Lieutenant General He Lei on the sidelines of the conference.

“This military exercise is the closest to actual combat for the PLA’s task forces to familiarise themselves with the battlefield environment, strengthen coordination, and improve command capabilities,” He said. “I think it was a rehearsal of one of our combat plans.”

He added there was a risk of war between the PLA and US military, and said Washington’s support for the Philippines and Taiwan independence forces, posed “extreme” risks.

Beijing does not want to see Washington get involved in a war in the Taiwan Strait, he added, “but we do have countermeasures if that happens”.

The United States, in common with most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as independent, but it is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to providing it with arms to defend itself.

The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said the exercises were “punishment” for “Taiwan separatists” and a “severe warning” to outside forces intent on interference and provocation.

A large screen in Beijing shows a map of military drills conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army in five areas around Taiwan on May 23. Photo: Reuters

During the PLA press conference on Saturday morning, Jing also accused the US of seeking to build an Asia-Pacific version of Nato to maintain its hegemony in the region. The comment was in response to Austin’s remarks about strengthening alliances and partnerships across the region.

Jing also addressed tensions between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea, saying “provocations” by the Philippines and interference by the US were the root of the problem.

Chinese and Philippine coastguard ships have been involved in a series of confrontations around disputed reefs.

PLA Major General Xu Hui said that while the US would continue to strengthen its alliances in the Pacific region, “it does not necessarily mean that China and the US would engage in conflict ”.

“[Austin] may not want direct conflict with China over the Philippine issue,” Xu said.

During their talks on Friday, Dong and Austin agreed to maintain communications between the two militaries.

Washington should “exercise some restraint” and “encourage the Philippines to talk to us, rather than encourage the Philippines to provoke”, Xu said, adding that this would also be beneficial for the US.

PLA Senior Colonel Zhou Bo said Austin was “restrained” in his speech when it came to Taiwan, noting that his remarks about “so-called punishment” stopped short of directly mentioning Beijing.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zY21wLmNvbS9uZXdzL2NoaW5hL2RpcGxvbWFjeS9hcnRpY2xlLzMyNjUwMTQvc2hhbmdyaS1sYS1kaWFsb2d1ZS1jaGluYS13aWxsLW5ldmVyLWJlLXNvZnQtZm9yZWlnbi1pbnRlcmZlcmVuY2UtcGxhLW9mZmljaWFsLXdhcm5z0gGOAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnNjbXAuY29tL25ld3MvY2hpbmEvZGlwbG9tYWN5L2FydGljbGUvMzI2NTAxNC9zaGFuZ3JpLWxhLWRpYWxvZ3VlLWNoaW5hLXdpbGwtbmV2ZXItYmUtc29mdC1mb3JlaWduLWludGVyZmVyZW5jZS1wbGEtb2ZmaWNpYWwtd2FybnM?oc=5

2024-06-01 11:14:11Z
CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zY21wLmNvbS9uZXdzL2NoaW5hL2RpcGxvbWFjeS9hcnRpY2xlLzMyNjUwMTQvc2hhbmdyaS1sYS1kaWFsb2d1ZS1jaGluYS13aWxsLW5ldmVyLWJlLXNvZnQtZm9yZWlnbi1pbnRlcmZlcmVuY2UtcGxhLW9mZmljaWFsLXdhcm5z0gGOAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnNjbXAuY29tL25ld3MvY2hpbmEvZGlwbG9tYWN5L2FydGljbGUvMzI2NTAxNC9zaGFuZ3JpLWxhLWRpYWxvZ3VlLWNoaW5hLXdpbGwtbmV2ZXItYmUtc29mdC1mb3JlaWduLWludGVyZmVyZW5jZS1wbGEtb2ZmaWNpYWwtd2FybnM