On the afternoon of May 17, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered recent media queries concerning the military.
I have a piece of news at the top.
On May 17, the PLA Air Force organized a visit of foreign military attachés in China to an aviation brigade in Hangzhou. During the visit, the military attachés watched the static display of JH-7 aircraft and interacted with Chinese officers and soldiers.
Question: Philippine Defense Secretary recently said his department was "not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China". The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said "no Cabinet-level official in the Marcos administration has agreed to any Chinese proposal pertaining to" Ren'ai Jiao. What's your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson recently has outlined multiple times the basic facts regarding what happened between China and the Philippines in terms of managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines released details about the relevant communication between the two sides. The facts are clear and backed by hard evidence that cannot be denied. It needs to be pointed out that the Chinese side reached with the Philippine side the "gentlemen's agreement", internal understandings and the “new model” out of humanitarian considerations. Such agreements help to manage differences, prevent conflicts and build trust between the two sides, so as to preserve peace and stability in relevant waters. The Philippine side keeps denying the hard facts, deceiving its people and misleading the international community. Where is its credibility? What is it up to? A person without credibility can not establish himself in society, and a country without credibility can not grow strong. The Chinese side urges the Philippine side to adhere to the basic norms governing international relations, stop its false narratives and reckless provocations. Otherwise all its behaviors will only backfire on itself and do itself more harm than good.
Question: The Philippine President recently stated that the Philippines had no intention to provoke or exacerbate tensions in the South China Sea and would not attack anyone "with water cannons or any other such offensive (weapons)". However, the media reported that during this year's US-Philippines Balikatan exercise, a model resembling the aircraft carrier PLANS Liaoning appeared on the sand table and a Chinese-made vessel was sunk in the drill. Please comment on that.
Zhang Xiaogang: The Philippine side's words contradict with its actions and are ill-founded. On the South China Sea issue, it's evident to all who is saying one thing but doing another, who is provoking and creating trouble and who is stoking bloc confrontation and fueling tensions? As for the relevant subjects of this US-Philippines joint exercise, they are nothing but self-deception. The PLA does not provoke troubles, but we never flinch when trouble comes our way. Anyone who attempts to solicit foreign support and gang up with others to coerce and pressurize China will find it impossible to succeed. We urge the Philippine side to refrain from acting recklessly and stop all infringements and provocations. The Chinese side will continue to take firm and decisive measures to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Question: According to media reports, the US Army has transported the "Typhon" system, capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, to the Philippines for military exercises. In response, China's H-6K bombers recently took off from Yongshu Jiao. Please comment on that.
Zhang Xiaogang: The US deployment of a land-based intermediate-range missile system to the Philippines seriously harms China's strategic security, seriously threatens security of regional countries, and seriously undermines regional peace and stability. China has expressed our firm and solemn opposition to this multiple times.
In recent years, the US has repeatedly withdrawn from international arms control treaties and organizations. Such behavior undermines the system of arms control treaties and deals a huge blow to global strategic security and stability. Relevant country acts as a pawn of others and a tool of hegemony, and facilitates the deployment of another country's strategic offensive weapons with strong Cold War undertones in its own territory. However, this will only bring it more security risks. We urge the US side to take seriously national security concerns of regional countries and stop dangerous actions that escalate tensions in the region. The Chinese side will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard our security interests.
Question: Not long ago, China's third aircraft carrier, PLANS Fujian, completed its maiden sea trial. Some media reports commented that this is a crucial step in China's extensive naval development, and by choosing to conduct the maiden sea trial of the aircraft carrier Fujian during the US-Philippines Balikatan joint exercise, China is sending a signal to all other parties in the South China Sea, indicating its readiness for combat. Please comment on that.
Zhang Xiaogang: Recently, China's third aircraft carrier, PLANS Fujian, successfully completed its maiden sea trial. A series of tests were conducted on power, electricity, and other systems, and achieved expected results. Next, follow-up tests will be conducted according to the plan. The sea trial of PLANS Fujian is a normal arrangement during the construction process and does not target any specific entity, region or country.
China's independent development and construction of aircraft carriers are necessary for protecting national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China remains steadfast in pursuing the path of peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.
Question: It's reported that the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait and trespassed into the territorial sea of China's Xisha Qundao. The US side claimed that "it's unlawful to draw straight baselines around" Xisha Qundao according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and it "will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows". What's your comment on that, please?
Zhang Xiaogang: The US military vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait, trespassed into the territorial sea and internal waters of China's Xisha Qundao and hyped up the action. The Chinese side strongly deplores and firmly opposes that and has lodged solemn representations with the US side. The spokespersons of the PLA Eastern Theater Command and Southern Theater Command also responded to this move.
In the current cross-Strait situation, deliberate provocations by the US side pose a threat to China's sovereignty and security, send wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and damage regional peace and stability. Xisha Qundao is China's inherent territory. The Chinese government released the baselines of the territorial sea of Xisha Qundao as early as in 1996. What we did was in line with international law and practices. The US side is not a state party to UNCLOS, but it kept invoking the Convention to make an issue of it, and even sent military vessels to intrude into the territorial sea and internal waters of Xisha Qundao. Such provocative moves violated China's sovereignty, threatened our national security and undermined regional peace and stability. They are typical behaviors of hegemony. The US wrongdoings are not conducive to maintaining the momentum of stabilization of China-US state-to-state and mil-to-mil relations from further deterioration. The PLA will stay on high alert, take resolute countermeasures against any infringement and provocations, and firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Question: According to US media reports, the DPP authorities are seeking to increase the number of its so-called "military attachés" at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu from 4 to 10 to increase coordination and intelligence sharing with US Indo-Pacific Command. In addition, it's reported that Taiwan's troops conducted joint drills with the US navy in western Pacific in April. Do you have any comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. The DPP authorities colluded with the US and attempted to solicit US support to push for "Taiwan independence" and resist reunification by force. Such behaviors are doomed to fail. The US side should fully realize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, stop any form of official interactions and military contact with China's Taiwan region and stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and deliver on its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence". The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests. The Chinese side will take resolute and decisive countermeasures against any "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and foreign connivance and support.