On the afternoon of November 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

On the afternoon of November 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military. (mod.gov.cn)

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

Jiang Bin: I have two pieces of news to announce at the top.

Firstly, a PLAN task group comprising of PLANS Changbaishan, PLANS Zhenghe and Xiangqianjin-1, will set sail for ocean-going training in mid-November. Midshipmen and faculty members from PLA naval academies including over 10 international students will participate in the training. The task group will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and have exchanges with navies of these countries to strengthen mutual learning and deepen substantive cooperation.

Secondly, the 4th China-ASEAN Mid-and-junior Level Officer Exchange will be held in China from November 17 to 24. The event will be organized by the International Studies College of the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT). Mid-and-junior level officers from ASEAN member states have been invited to attend. The Exchange will take place in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Kunshan, where the participants will visit military academies and units, education bases for China's revolutionary history, and high-tech enterprises. Participants will also have a seminar on topics such as "commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War: Asia's experience in rebuilding peace" and "building a peaceful home in a changing and turbulent world". The Exchange will offer a platform for mid-and-junior level officers from China and ASEAN countries to share views and learn from each other, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and join hands in building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Journalist: According to media reports, the PLA Navy has confirmed that aircraft carrier PLANS Fujian is based at a military port in Sanya. Some analysts suggest that China will be more active in upholding its territorial claims in the South China Sea and seek to project naval forces to farther areas, which may raise concerns among certain countries. What's your comment?

Jiang Bin: China adheres to the path of peaceful development and follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The Chinese military remains a staunch force for world peace. The selection of the home port for aircraft carrier PLANS Fujian is determined based on factors such as the hydrological conditions of the military port, the location and construction of supporting facilities, and the convenience for the aircraft carrier to carry out maritime combat readiness and training missions. Our navy colleagues say that PLAN vessels will sail to wherever necessary for the protection of China's national interests. For an aircraft carrier, the deep blue is where it is destined for.

Journalist: As we celebrate the 76th birthday of the PLA Air Force, the 6th International Cadets Week of the PLA Air Force has also come to a successful conclusion. We have noticed that the PLA Air Force is conducting more international engagements of various kinds. Please tell us more about that.

Jiang Bin: November 11 is the birthday of the PLA Air Force. Over the past 76 years, the PLA Air Force has expanded its international engagements from having single partner to having friends across the globe, and shifted from primarily importing technology to engaging in all-round, multi-tiered open cooperation. These developments reflect China's rising international status and broader diplomatic relations as well as growing capabilities of the PLA Air Force. In particular, the PLA Air Force has rapidly advanced its external exchanges and cooperation and achieved many outcomes in the new era. Joint training such as China-Pakistan Exercise Shaheen and China-Thailand Exercise Falcon Strike, as well as China-Russia joint strategic air patrols, have become signature programs that enhance friendship and mutual trust and hone real combat capabilities. The Y-20 transport aircraft has traversed thousands of miles time and again to deliver disaster relief supplies, along with the goodwill and friendship of the Chinese people, to multiple countries across four continents. Meanwhile, a growing number of servicemen from foreign air forces are coming to China for studies and exchanges to promote cooperation and common development.

True friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them. On its path towards a world-class force, the PLA Air Force will forge ahead with greater confidence and determination. Together with air forces of other countries, we will fly our jets to build bridges of friendship, chart flight routes of hope by fulfilling our responsibilities, and safeguard peaceful skies through cooperation—all to contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Journalist: It is reported that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently said that if the Chinese mainland uses military vessels and other forces against Taiwan, it would cause a situation threatening Japan's survival, and the Japanese Self-defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense in accordance with law. Do you have any comment?

Jiang Bin: The erroneous remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese leader constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, and a serious violation of the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms governing international relations. The remarks have challenged the post-war international order, and sent very wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Such words are egregious in nature and have caused very negative impact. They are extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no foreign interference. This year, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Should the Japanese side fail to draw lessons from history and dare to take a risk, or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed PLA and pay a heavy price.

Journalist: According to information from relevant Taiwan agencies, nearly a quarter of the volunteer soldiers recruited in the past four years failed to complete the minimum service year and chose to pay compensation to be demobilized in advance. Please comment on that.

Jiang Bin: This number shows that more people in Taiwan have seen through Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities' malicious and selfish intention of hijacking the public to seek "Taiwan independence". A growing number of young people in Taiwan have now refused to be cannon fodder. "Taiwan independence" will not only cost the young generation their future and even their lives, but also destroy the future of Taiwan. We hope compatriots in Taiwan can be more courageous in saying no to "Taiwan independence" to protect their own security interests and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.