Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

When asked to comment on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's claim that "deterrence for China obviously begins with Taiwan's own self-defense capabilities," as well as US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo's claims of "existing plans to deter and stop a military invasion from the Chinese mainland", and his advocacy for creating a "hellish scenario" in response, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that some individuals in the US have ulterior motives to hype "China military threat" narrative. 

This is merely an excuse to interfere in Taiwan affairs and a means for the US military-industrial complex to profit, according to Chen. 

Their claims repeatedly prove that the US always prioritizes "American interests first." Their actions are detrimental to the Taiwan island and aim to turn Taiwan residents into cannon fodder, Chen said.

Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and we will never allow any force to turn the Taiwan island into a "hell," he added.

The US should adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, stop sending any erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and cease fueling tensions in the Taiwan Straits.

When asked to comment on the article in the US magazine Foreign Affairs that the US should clarify its position against "Taiwan independence", including publicly criticizing the claims and actions of Taiwan's regional leader that imply "Taiwan independence", Chen said that "We express appreciation for these rational voices," adding that an increasing number of foreign experts and scholars have recently voiced their concerns and criticisms regarding Lai Ching-te's intentions for "Taiwan independence".

Chen said he hopes that more insightful individuals will recognize that the fundamental reason for the current complex and severe situation in the Taiwan Straits is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and their stubborn adherence to the "Taiwan independence" stance and continuously colluding with external forces to pursue separatist provocations.

Global Times