Zhang Xiaogang Photo:Ministry of Defense

"The US playing 'Taiwan card' is no different from playing with fire, and arming Taiwan is an extremely dangerous 'gambling' act and will surely pay a heavy price for it," said Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday, responding to a question about the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) recently passed by the US Senate and House of Representatives, which involves multiple negative provisions related to China, including explicit appropriation of $1 billion for so-called "Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative", strengthening defense cooperation between the US and Taiwan region and incorporating Taiwan region into the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise.

Zhang said that the negative provisions related to China in the new US act blatantly interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and disrupt global peace and stability. 

"China is firmly opposed to such acts. The Taiwan question is the first red line in China-US relations that must not be crossed," stressed the spokesperson.

Zhang urged the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, truly deliver on its promise of not supporting "Taiwan independence," refrain from sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, stop military interactions in any forms with China's Taiwan region, and avoid any damage to the relations between the two countries and two militaries and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.



Global Times