Beijing (TDI): China’s Defense Ministry on Friday strongly rejected foreign criticism of its recently concluded “Justice Mission 2025” military exercises near Taiwan, warning that no country or force will be allowed to obstruct Beijing’s efforts to curb “Taiwan independence” separatist activities.
Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang emphasized that China remains committed to peace across the Taiwan Strait, but will not tolerate external interference. “We will never allow any individual or force to tie our hands in curbing ‘Taiwan independence’ activities under the pretext of safeguarding cross-Strait peace,” Zhang said. He urged relevant countries to stop supporting separatist forces and to cease provoking tensions over the Taiwan issue.
The drills, conducted earlier this week by the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA, involved the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force units in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters. According to Zhang, the exercises tested integrated joint operation capabilities, demonstrated China’s ability to counter separatist moves, and underscored its resolve to respond firmly to any provocations.
Several countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the European Union, issued statements expressing concern over the exercises. US Deputy State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott called the drills “unnecessary” and urged China to exercise restraint, reduce military pressure on Taiwan, and engage in dialogue. “The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion,” Pigott said.
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Chinese experts, however, dismissed Washington’s response as clichéd and routine. Zhang Hua, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that US statements ignore the one-China principle and shift the blame onto Beijing. “The root cause of tensions lies not in China’s exercises but in the provocative Taiwan independence policies of the Lai Ching-te authorities and growing US arms sales to the island,” according to Global Times.
Observers noted a gap between rhetoric and practice, pointing out that US leaders have publicly downplayed concern over the drills, treating them as a continuation of previous exercises.
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Chinese authorities have consistently called on other nations to adhere to the one-China principle and refrain from supporting separatist movements. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that countries criticizing the drills are engaging in “absolute hypocrisy and distortion” and reiterated that the principle is the political foundation for China’s relations with all 183 countries maintaining diplomatic ties.
