China’s Dong Jun warns Taiwan separatists…

SINGAPORE – China’s defense minister, Admiral Dong Jun, has vowed that anyone who aims to separate Taiwan from China will face “self-destruction.”

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the admiral called on the “forces for Taiwan independence” to “leave behind illusions and return to the right path for reunification.”

“Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will only destroy themselves,” he said.

In response to questions, Dong reiterated China’s position that Taiwan is part of China and said Beijing is committed to peaceful reunification.

Taiwan is a democratically governed island and recently elected a new president on May 20.

During the speech and Q&A, Dong repeatedly blamed separatist forces for undermining the “One China” principle, which expresses Beijing’s view that it has sovereignty over Taiwan. The admiral said newly elected Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te made “blatant” statements about his ambitions for Taiwan’s independence in his inaugural speech.

He also accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of trying to change the island’s constitution to “eradicate Chinese identity,” prevent people-to-people exchanges between Taiwan and mainland China as well as increase the military’s ability to push for independence.

For decades, Taiwan has bought US military hardware, with recent purchases including advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks, modernized F-16 fighter jets and long-range artillery systems.

China’s defense minister also took aim at unnamed “external forces”, claiming to support Taiwanese separatists.

“We know some great powers continue to apply the principle of ‘China’s fault’, distort facts and even misinterpret UN General Assembly resolutions,” Dong said.

Without identifying a specific country, Dong also said the superpower “violated its commitment to China when we established diplomatic relations.”

“They continue to test China’s red lines, such as official involvement and arms sales to Taiwan,” he said.

“That kind of action sends the wrong signal to Taiwan’s independence forces and makes them become very aggressive. I think it’s clear what the foreign power’s goal is: they’re trying to contain China using Taiwan.”

The US has no mutual defense treaty with Taiwan and is under no obligation to defend the island. But the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 – enacted after the US transferred diplomatic recognition to Beijing – states that the US “shall provide Taiwan with defense articles and defense services” necessary to “seek Taiwan to maintain an adequate self-defense capability.”

Although Dong had devoted part of his speech to addressing China’s concerns about Taiwan, he continued to elaborate on the issue in his first response during the Q&A. When reminded by the plenary chairman, Bastian Giegerich of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, to address the delegates’ questions on other issues, Dong asked to finish his answer on Taiwan, describing it as “the core of our core interests.”

He added, “in the face of a strong People’s Liberation Army, their efforts will be futile, and their efforts will only lead to quick death. (It will) only harm the interests of the people of Taiwan. And this is the last thing we want to see China.”

Dong also addressed other questions, including one that referred to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s comments. that killing Filipinos in the South China Sea would be “very close” to an act of war.

When the defense minister accused the Philippines of illegally grounded a landing ship in the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, he said Beijing and Manila have discussed and worked on the problem peacefully.

Dong noted that the two countries have reached several agreements recognized by the current and previous Philippine administrations, such as allowing resupply to the ship’s garrison. Manila deploys a resupply mission to the shoal to a small garrison of troops living in an old warship accidentally run aground in 1999 to protect Manila’s maritime claims.

“But recently, they started not to recognize (the agreement) at all. This is a unilateral violation of their promises … I think this is a rule of blackmail and piracy. We always talk about a strong international order, (but) I think this is not true of morals,” he said.

In contrast, the Chinese defense chief characterized the actions taken by the China Coast Guard as “very restrained in accordance with our law.”

“Our policy has been consistent over the past decades. We are committed to resolving disputes peacefully. But I also want to say, our tolerance for deliberate provocations will be limited.”

When delegates asked about other issues such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, Dong focused most of his answers on Taiwan and the South China Sea.