On the afternoon of October 17, 2025, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), answered recent media queries concerning the military.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on the afternoon of October 17, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Zhang Xiaogang: I have two pieces of news to announce at the top.

Firstly, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the PLA and the PAP have resolutely implemented the decisions and directives of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC), adhered to the principles of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance in fighting corruption, and dealt heavy blows to corrupted officers. The fight against corruption in the military continues to gain momentum.

With the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission/ Supervision Commission has launched investigations into nine individual. They are He Weidong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CMC; Miao Hua, member of the CMC and former Chief of the CMC Political Work Department; He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Chief of the CMC Political Work Department; Wang Xiubin, former Executive Deputy Chief of CMC Joint Operations Command Center; Lin Xiangyang, former Commander of the PLA Eastern Theater Command; Qin Shutong, former Political Commissar of the PLA Army; Yuan Huazhi, former Political Commissar of the PLA Navy; Wang Houbin, former Commander of the PLA Rocket Force; and Wang Chunning, former Commander of the PAP.

The investigation found that these nine individuals had seriously violated Party disciplines and were suspected of grave duty crimes involving huge amounts of money, and that their cases were extremely severe in nature and egregious in impact. In accordance with relevant Party regulations and national laws and regulations, the CPC Central Committee has decided to expel them from the Party and transfer their suspected criminal issues to military procuratorate for examination and prosecution in accordance with the law.

The action to expel eight of the nine individuals, namely, He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning, from the CPC will be ratified by the CPC Central Committee when it convenes a plenary session. Previously, the CMC had decided to discharge these nine individuals from the military.

The handling of the cases involving He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun and the others once again demonstrates the firm determination of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC to carry the fight against corruption through to the end. It also underscores a clear stance that there is no hiding place for any grafter within the military, marking a significant achievement in the anti-corruption efforts of the Party and the military. The people's military has thus become purer, more consolidated, and more cohesive and combat-effective.

Secondly, the 5th Symposium on Military Medicine of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum will be held in Beijing from October 27th to November 1st. Leaders of health departments and medical experts from over 20 African militaries will attend the event. Under the theme of Joint Contribution and Shared Benefits: Promoting High-Quality Development of China-Africa Military Medical Cooperation, this year's symposium covers topics including innovation of health service theory and management, military pharmacy and military medicine, and diversified medical support for military operations other than war (MOOTW). The event will also feature academic salons, visits, and field studies, aiming to further deepen practical cooperation in military medicine between China and Africa, enhance capacity to jointly address medical and health challenges, and facilitate the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Journalist: It is reported that the PLAN hospital ship Silk Road Ark is on Mission Harmony-2025. It visited Nauru and Fiji, and is now providing medical service in Tonga. Please brief us on more details.

Zhang Xiaogang: The PLAN hospital ship Silk Road Ark set sail for Mission Harmony-2025 in early September to provide medical service to relevant countries in the South Pacific and Latin America. The ship already visited Nauru, Fiji and Tonga. and has in total treated over 9,200 people. More than 1,100 surgeries and 6,000-odd medical examinations have been conducted onboard. It also dispatched medical teams to local hospitals, schools and communities to conduct joint diagnosis and treatment, academic exchanges and cultural activities. During its visit to the South Pacific, the Silk Road Ark builds friendship and saves lives, and therefore is called a ship of hope and an envoy of peace.

Setting sail with benevolence and compassion, the PLAN hospital ships have brought health and hope to people around the world. This is the first time the Silk Road Ark has carried out Mission Harmony since it was commissioned in 2024. On October 20, it will leave for Latin America to provide high-quality and efficient medical service to relevant countries, making substantial contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Journalist: It is reported that the US Senate and House of Representatives have passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which involves multiple negative provisions related to China. Its explicit appropriation of one billion USD for so-called Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative aims to strengthen defense cooperation between the US and Taiwan region and incorporate Taiwan region into the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise. Please comment on that.

Zhang Xiaogang: The negative provisions related to China in the US NDAA constitute a blatant interference in China's internal affairs. It hurts China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and undermines global peace and stability. China is firmly opposed to such contents. The Taiwan question is the reddest red line in China-US relations that must not be crossed. The US is playing with fire by using the "Taiwan card". Providing arms to Taiwan is an extremely dangerous gamble that will cost the US a lot. We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, truly deliver on its promise of not supporting "Taiwan independence", refrain from sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and stop military interactions in any form with China's Taiwan region to protect the relations between the two countries and two militaries as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Journalist: In recent days, public vessels of the Philippine side illegally intruded into waters adjacent to islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao. A Philippine ship bumped into a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel after approaching the Chinese ship in a dangerous manner. The Philippines' Defense Secretary claimed that the Philippine side had sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and Nansha Qundao. What's your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: The China Coast Guard (CCG) has responded to the incident and released video clips of the friction. The fact is crystal clear, and the Philippine side has no ground to justify or deny its intrusion, provocations and wrongdoings. As we all know, the scope of Philippine territories has been defined by a series of international treaties. China's Huangyan Dao and Nansha Qundao are not within its scope. The Philippines' Defense Secretary deliberately distorted historical and legal facts to justify infringements and provocations of the Philippine side. It is totally groundless and will not work. We urge the Philippine side to give up unrealistic illusions, and stop putting on self-staged farces at sea or orchestrating propaganda. The Chinese side will continue to take resolute measures to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Journalist: In his so-called October 10 speech, Lai Ching-te clamored for increasing defense budget, establishing T-Dome air defense system and building "whole-of-society defense resilience", and claimed that peace was won through strength. May I have your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: In his relevant remarks, Lai Ching-te distorted historical facts and international jurisprudence, and peddled the same old separatist narrative for "Taiwan independence". Lai used his whole bag of tricks to pander to foreign power, deceive the people in Taiwan, and provoke cross-Strait confrontation. This is yet another  evidence that he is undermining peace and creating troubles. It exposed his malicious intention of selling out and ruining Taiwan.

In disregard of the well-being of the people in Taiwan, the DPP authorities keep barrelling down the wrong path of seeking independence by force, and try to embolden themselves with the T-Dome, which is just a castle in the air. Their behaviors are pushing Taiwan closer to the brink of war, and they are the ones who sow choas and disrupt peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We warn the DPP authorities that soliciting foreign support for independence and resisting reunification by force will not succeed. The PLA stays a strong force safeguarding the unity of our motherland. We will continue to enhance our real combat capabilities in countering separatist activities and foreign interference, and take resolute measures to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and cross-Strait peace and stability.