The United States has blatantly announced plans to sell large-scale advanced weapons to China’s Taiwan region in December 2025. This seriously violated the “one China” principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, violated China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China strongly regrets this, firmly opposes this, and has taken a series of necessary measures to protect China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Taiwan issue is entirely China’s internal affairs. There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China. This is clearly recognized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971.
Taiwan’s return to China is an outcome of victory in World War II and an integral part of the postwar international order. A series of instruments that have legal force under international law, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, all affirm China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China based on the “one China” principle. The principle of “one China” is a universal agreement of the international community and a basic norm of international relations.
The United States’ large-scale arms sales to China’s Taiwan region are seriously interfering with China’s internal affairs. In the August 17 communiqué jointly issued by China and the United States in 1982, the United States promised that it did not seek to implement a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that arms sales to Taiwan would not exceed the levels supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intended to reduce arms sales to Taiwan in stages and lead to a final solution over time.
However, over the past 40 years, the United States has not faithfully implemented the “One China” principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 communiqué. Public military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan have become more frequent, and the size and capabilities of weapons sold by the United States to Taiwan continue to increase. This greatly undermines China’s sovereignty and security, and at the same time emboldens the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
The resolution of the Taiwan issue is a Chinese problem and must be decided by the Chinese themselves. History and practice have repeatedly proven that the one-China principle underpins peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. If the “one China” principle is fully recognized and seriously observed, the Taiwan Strait will remain calm. However, if the “one China” principle is intentionally challenged or disrupted, dark clouds will gather over the Taiwan Strait, and even severe storms will occur.
The root cause of tensions in the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwanese authorities continue to ask the United States for support for “Taiwan independence,” and some in the United States are considering using Taiwan to contain China. It is not China that is trying to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, but separatist forces in the United States and Taiwan. The US arms sale to Taiwan was first a provocation. China’s response is lawful, lawful, and legitimate. This is a severe punishment for the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and a stern warning to external intervening forces.
Although the two countries across the Taiwan Strait have not yet been unified, the fact remains that mainland China and Taiwan belong to the same China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. This is the real situation in the Taiwan Strait.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are trying to turn Taiwan into a powder keg in order to seek U.S. support to advance their separatist policies. Their large-scale and desperate arms purchases further reveal their true nature as provocateurs, peace disturbers, and warmongers. Outside forces seeking to arm Taiwan to contain China will only embolden separatists and move the Taiwan Strait closer to the risk of armed conflict.
The Taiwan issue is at the heart of China’s core interests and is a red line that must not be crossed. China will take all necessary measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No matter how many advanced weapons we sell to Taiwan, we cannot overturn the inevitability of China’s unification. Anyone who crosses the line or provokes on this issue will be met with a firm response from China. Any attempt to prevent China’s unification will inevitably fail.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
