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China’s military
ChinaMilitary

PLA will ‘show no mercy’ against Taiwan independence moves, top Chinese general says

  • CMC vice-chairman Zhang Youxia tells Beijing Xiangshan Forum the military ‘will never agree’ to separate the island from China
  • He also takes a thinly veiled swipe at the US, saying a ‘certain country’ is interfering in the region and internal affairs of other nations

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Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the CMC, told the forum that Taiwan is the “core of China’s core interests”. Photo: AFP
Jack Lauin Beijing
The People’s Liberation Army will “show no mercy” against any moves for Taiwan independence, a top Chinese military official told a regional security forum on Monday.
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“No matter who wishes to separate Taiwan from China in any way, the Chinese military will never agree to it,” General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, said in a speech at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

He said Taiwan was the “core of China’s core interests”.

01:54

China sacks defence minister Li Shangfu with no explanation after nearly two-month absence

China sacks defence minister Li Shangfu with no explanation after nearly two-month absence
Zhang also met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on the sidelines of the forum on Monday, the most senior Chinese official to meet the Russian general since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

“China is willing to work together with Russia against various security challenges and threats, and jointly defend global strategic balance and stability,” he told Shoigu, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Zhang’s statement on Taiwan was less aggressive and shorter than a speech delivered in June at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore by General Li Shangfu, who was sacked as defence minister last week. Li said the PLA would fight separatism on the self-ruled island “at all costs”, and blamed instability in the Taiwan Strait on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
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Taiwan is a key issue plaguing ties between Beijing and Western capitals. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to take control of Taiwan, which it sees as a province to be unified with the Chinese mainland. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as independent, but many oppose any attempt by Beijing to attack Taiwan.

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