China firmly opposes US Congressmen's visit to Taiwan: Defense Spokesperson
Source China Military Online Editor Li Weichao Time 2022-04-15 17:08BEIJING, April 15 -- Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense made comments on the visit by some members of the US Congress to Taiwan on Friday.
Recently, members of the US Congress paid a visit to Taiwan despite China's strong opposition. This deliberate provocative action made by the US side seriously violates the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, severely undermines the political foundation of China-US relations, and escalates the tension across the Taiwan Strait, Wu said.
Wu pointed out that it is extremely hypocritical and untrustworthy for the US to pledge not to support "Taiwan independence" on the one hand and send a serious wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces on the other. China firmly opposes to this and lodges solemn representations with the US side.
Wu stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and the Taiwan question that brooks no external interference. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted combined combat-readiness patrol and carried out targeted training exercises in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. This is a necessary action taken in light of the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the need to safeguard China's national sovereignty. The Chinese PLA has been in full combat readiness and will take all measures necessary to resolutely defeat the interference of external forces and thwart the secessionist attempts for "Taiwan independence", and safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
PLA conducts combat exercises in Straits
Source China Daily Editor Huang Panyue Time 2022-04-15 19:52:11
The People's Liberation Army organized interservice combat exercises near Taiwan on Friday in response to recent provocations by the United States with regards to the Taiwan question, according to a military spokesman.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement that the command sent ships, fighter jets, bomber aircraft and other forces on combat patrols and assault exercises on Friday in the air and waters of the East China Sea and near the island.
"This operation was arranged in response to the frequent wrong signals from the US on the Taiwan question in recent days," he said. "Such malicious acts and attempts are useless and dangerous. Whoever plays with fire will eventually get burned."
Shi said his command is always ready to protect national sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability.
The exercises came amid an ongoing visit to Taiwan by six lawmakers from both chambers of the US Congress.
The congressional delegation — led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican serving as a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee — arrived in Taiwan on Thursday on an unannounced trip with a tight schedule that includes a meeting with Taiwan leader, Tsai Ing-wen.
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday that US lawmakers had made their provocative visit to Taiwan despite China's strong opposition.
He stressed that the move has gravely violated the one-China policy and the three Sino-US Joint Communiques, seriously damaged the political foundations of bilateral relations, and resulted in further escalation in the Taiwan Straits.
"The US keeps sending the wrong messages to Taiwan secessionist forces while continuing to reiterate its commitment that it doesn't support Taiwan independence. This is exceptionally hypocritical and perfidious," Wu said, adding that China has lodged solemn representations with the US.
The spokesman said China will never tolerate foreign interference in the Taiwan question. The exercises carried out by the PLA Eastern Theater Command were a necessary countermeasure to protect national sovereignty in accordance with the current security situation in the Taiwan Straits, he noted.
PLA's Eastern Theater Command organizes joint combat-readiness alert patrol surrounding Taiwan Island
- Source
- China Military Online
- Editor
- Lin Congyi
- Time
- 2022-04-15 18:08:42
BEIJING, April 15 -- Army Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said on Friday that the PLA Eastern Theater Command sent destroyers, frigates, bombers and fighter jets to stage a joint combat-readiness alert patrol involving troops of various services and arms in the East China Sea and waters and airspace surrounding the Taiwan Island on 15th April. The troops also held drills on subjects including striking maritime targets.
According to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the military operation is the response to the provocative moves of the US side by sending wrong signals repeatedly on the Taiwan question. He pointed out that the misbehavior and tricks of the US side are very dangerous and will only end up in vain, playing with fire will only get oneself burnt. Troops of the Eastern Theater Command always stay on high alert and are determined to defend China’s sovereignty security and regional peace and stability, Shi said.