Chinese Defense Minister Warns Against Taiwan’s Independence, Addresses South China Sea Tensions, and Calls for Peace in East Asia

In a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun sternly warned those advocating for Taiwan’s independence, labeling them as “Taiwanese separatists” and cautioning that their actions will ultimately lead to harm upon themselves. Dong emphasized China’s commitment to peaceful reunification while expressing concerns about the continual erosion of the situation due to separatist movements and interference from external powers.

While he did not explicitly mention the United States, tensions between China and the US regarding Taiwan’s autonomy are evident, with Beijing viewing Taiwan as a renegade province and the US pledging to defend its sovereignty. Dong highlighted the Chinese military exercises conducted near Taiwan in May, condemning these actions as provocative both domestically and internationally.

In addition to the Taiwan issue, Dong addressed the escalating sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, where certain countries have been spreading misinformation and deploying missiles. Although he did not mention specific countries, his comments indirectly alluded to tensions between China, the Philippines, and the US in the region.

Despite confrontational rhetoric from Dong, he asserted that China has never resorted to using force in pursuit of peace and stability in East Asia. However, incidents such as Chinese ships firing water cannons at Philippine vessels in disputed waters have raised concerns about China’s intentions and actions in Southeast Asia.