Spokesman: Military collusion worsens situation for Taiwan

A Chinese mainland spokesman voiced strong opposition on Wednesday to recent frequent military collusion between the United States and Taiwan to strengthen the island's "defense "capabilities, saying that such moves only serve to increase the dangers faced by the island.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference in Beijing that since Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party came to office in 2016, the island's arms purchases from the US and its defense budget have risen year by year.

Taiwan's defense budget for 2024 has touched a record high of NT$606.8 billion ($18.98 billion), almost doubling over the past eight years. Taiwan was also the largest buyer of US weapons from 2020 to 2022, according to the spokesman.

Last month, the US approved the potential sale to Taiwan of arms at an estimated cost of $500 million, as well as new military aid for the island worth up to $80 million.

Chen said that the DPP's insistence on pushing for "Taiwan independence" by relying on the US has jeopardized the interests of the Taiwan people and also undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"The mounting debt caused by the increasing arms purchases only serves to make the people of Taiwan more anxious," he said, adding that the DPP could never alter the mainland's firm will to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland.

The spokesman also condemned the DPP authorities for putting forward the so-called "four requests on Taiwan's participation in the United Nations" as the 78th session of the UN General Assembly began last week.

The DPP authorities also claimed that they would invite "diplomatic allies" to submit a joint letter to the UN secretary-general, urging him to rectify the UN's "misinterpretation" of the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758.

Chen said the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority in 1971 which made it clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN, and no issues exist about the so-called "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan".

"Taiwan has no right to join the UN," he said, adding that by challenging the basic principles of international relations and the consensus of the international community year after year, the DPP only makes it clearer to the world that Taiwan is an integral part of China.

zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn