Beijing warns external backing for Taiwan 'independence' will fail

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman on Tuesday said any attempt by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities to seek "independence" by relying on external forces or military means is doomed to fail.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at an online briefing in response to recent comments by Taiwan's military authorities.

According to media reports, the head of Taiwan's military department said that although US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not mention Taiwan in his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Taiwan would continue to strengthen its so-called "self-defense" capabilities, maintain close military cooperation with the US, and fulfill its "responsibility and capability" to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang said that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Taiwan Strait are fundamentally incompatible, adding that maintaining peace and stability across the Strait represents the greatest common denominator between China and the US.

Recent US remarks on Taiwan show that the US side has gained a better understanding of, and attaches greater importance to, China's position and concerns on the Taiwan question, Zhang said.

More and more facts have proved that the historical trend of China's complete reunification is unstoppable, he added.

Any attempt to seek "independence" by relying on external forces or by military means is bound to fail, the spokesperson said, noting that forces that remain stubborn and move against the trend of history will be swept away by the tide of history.