Ministry of National Defense

On the afternoon of March 15, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered recent media queries concerning the military.

On the afternoon of March 15, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered recent media queries concerning the military.

I have two pieces of news at the top.

The PLA will host the 7th Asia Meeting of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province from March 25 to 28. This is a regular meeting held annually by CISM Asia for the purpose of studying and implementing the strategic development plan of CISM, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation on military sports and improving relevant policies, systems and mechanisms. The Meeting is another important international military sports event hosted by the Chinese military after the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan in 2019.

At the invitation of the Pakistan Army, the PLA Guard of Honor will send a contingent to Pakistan in mid-to-late March to participate in the Pakistan Day Parade.

Question: On March 7, President Xi Jinping attended the plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) at the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and delivered an important speech, emphasizing the comprehensive enhancement of strategic capabilities in emerging fields. Please provide further details on this.

Zhang Xiaogang: President Xi Jinping attended the plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) at the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), and delivered an important speech. To build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, President Xi laid out comprehensive arrangements for enhancing strategic capabilities in emerging fields. He explicitly emphasized the need to strengthen the sense of mission and responsibility, deepen reform and innovation, and comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging fields, providing fundamental guidance for advancing the cause of building a strong military in the new era. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has advanced the development of strategic emerging industries and new types of combat forces in a well-coordinated way, achieving a series of significant results. During the “two sessions”, President Xi stressed the need to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, providing strategic guidance for the enhancement of capabilities in emerging fields.

Studying and internalizing the important speech of President Xi, the military will continue to deepen reforms in emerging fields, and build an innovation ecosystem characterized by self-reliance, openness, integration, and vitality, thus creating a new situation in the enhancement of strategic capabilities in emerging fields.

Question: It is reported that recently coast guard vessels of China and the Philippines collided again in the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao. There have been nearly 10 such collisions in the disputed waters since the beginning of this year. Officials of the Philippine government and military viewed the Chinese actions as more aggressive than before. The US side reiterated its support for the Philippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: On March 5, without permission from the Chinese government, Philippine vessels intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao, in an attempt to transport supplies, including construction materials, to the Philippine warship illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao, and deliberately collided with China Coast Guard vessels. China Coast Guard took necessary regulatory measures in accordance with the law. The actions taken at the scene were professional, restrained, justified and lawful. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose the provocations and infringements made by the Philippine side.

The Chinese side released relevant videos in the first place showing the crystal clear facts to the public. It is the Philippine side that broke the law and infringed upon China’s rights. The Philippine side knows the fact very well that its territory is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain. Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao, is beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippine side has yet to tow away the warship illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao. Instead, it even attempted to repair and reinforce the warship for permanent occupation of Ren’ai Jiao. Such illegal and void acts severely violate China’s sovereignty and are doomed to failure. It is the Philippine side that broke its promises and took wanton acts. The Philippine side ignored the good faith and restraint shown by the Chinese side, reneged on its words once and again and repeatedly made provocations by intruding into the waters adjacent to China’s Ren’ai Jiao. It created the dangerous collisions, violating both the COLREGs and bilateral consensus of managing differences through negotiation and consultation. Such behaviors seriously undermined maritime order, security and stability, and ran counter to the spirit of the DOC. It is the Philippine side that resorted to deception. Under the guise of supplying daily necessities, the Philippine side not only delivered construction materials to the grounded vessel, but also arranged journalists on board the supply boats to stage photos. Recently a few Philippine military officials even made shows and played victim. They were trying to deceive both themselves as well as others. But no matter how they perform, nobody will buy their story. It needs to be pointed out that some big powers outside the region, in disregard of the facts, try to back up the Philippines, stir up trouble and create turmoil in the region. Such moves of using the Philippines as a pawn for selfish gains will find no support, as they go against the common aspiration of regional countries for peace and development.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren’ai Jiao. China’s resolution and will is unwavering in safeguarding our legitimate rights and interests. We urge the Philippine side not to further walk down the wrong path, and immediately stop any provocative actions that may escalate the disputes or complicate the situation. At the same time, we suggest some non-regional countries stop their rhetoric and actions that embolden and support the provocative and risky acts of the Philippines and refrain from being a disruptor in the South China Sea. The Chinese side will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend our sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Question: It is reported that the Japanese House of Representatives has passed the buget bill for fiscal year 2024. The budget totals approximately 112.57 trillion yen (about 750 billion US dollars), with a record-high defense budget of about 7.9 trillion yen (about 52.5 billion US dollars), an increase of about 1.1 trillion yen (about 7.3 billion US dollars) from 2023. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: Given its history of militarist aggression in modern times, Japan’s military and security moves are closely watched by its  Asian neighbors and the international community. In recent years, Japan has been significantly adjusting its security policies, increasing defense spending year after year, easing the restrictions on arms export, and seeking breakthroughs in military build-up. This has led its neighbors in Asia and the international community to strongly question whether Japan sincerely adheres to an exclusively defense-oriented policy and peaceful development. We urge Japan to genuinely respect the security concerns of neighboring countries, earnestly reflect on its history of aggression, and commit itself to the path of peaceful development to avoid further loss of trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community.

Question: It's reported that the Indian Ministry of Defence said that the inauguration of the Sela Tunnel in the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" would "be a major boost to India's operational preparedness", and India has deployed an additional 10,000 soldiers along the China-India border. Do you have any comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: Zangnan is China's inherent territory, and China never recognizes and firmly opposes India's illegal establishment of the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh".

Currently, the overall situation in the China-India border areas is stable, and both sides maintain effective communication through diplomatic and military channels to address border issues of mutual concern. India's actions are contrary to the efforts of both sides to ease the border situation and are not conducive to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas. We require the Indian side to cease any action that may complicate the boundary question, and earnestly maintain peace and stability in the border areas. The Chinese military remains highly vigilant and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Question: According to reports, the US government broke out Taiwan for the first time in its Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, which authorized to tap US stockpiles to assist Taiwan in strengthening the so-called “deterrence”.  Advisors from the US Special Forces Green Berets have been sent to Taiwan for long-term stationing to train Taiwan’s amphibious special forces. What’s your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: Taiwan is China's Taiwan. The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. Recently, the US side obscured, distorted and hollowed out the one-China principle through military aid and arms sales to Taiwan, and sending personnel to assist Taiwan in training its troops. These moves sent a seriously wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and severely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace and stability are as incompatible as water and fire. Those who connive at and support "Taiwan independence" separatist forces will get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing. We urge the US side to immediately end any form of official exchanges and military contact with Taiwan, stop arming Taiwan, and fulfill its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" with concrete actions. The PLA will stay on high alert, firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolutely smash "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interfering attempts.