On the afternoon of April 16, 2025, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, answered recent media queries concerning the military. (Photo by Sun Yue)
(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)
On the afternoon of April 16, 2025, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), answered recent media queries concerning the military.
Journalist: President Xi Jinping recently paid a visit to Viet Nam and put forward six measures to deepen the building of China-Viet Nam community with a shared future. Among the measures, President Xi emphasized the need to build more robust security safeguards. Could you please share how will the Chinese side promote China-Viet Nam military-to-military relationship?
Zhang Xiaogang: This year marks the 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Viet Nam. President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, paid a state visit to Viet Nam from April 14 to 15. President Xi and To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, jointly charted the course for China-Viet Nam state-to-state and military-to-military relations. President Xi said that standing at a new historical starting point, the two sides need to build on past achievements and forge ahead together. It's important for the two countries to bear in mind the overarching goals of achieving stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, greater public support, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management and resolution of differences. China and Viet Nam should advance comprehensive strategic cooperation with high-quality efforts, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In recent years, the two militaries have enhanced their long-standing friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood". The two sides have maintained frequent high-level engagements, established a "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security, conducted joint counter-terrorism exercises, organized activities such as border defense friendship exchanges, joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf, and young military officer exchanges. The military-to-military relations have achieved high-level and steady development. Building on past achievements, China is ready to work with Viet Nam to make new advances in pursuit of shared goals. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two parties and two countries, we are willing to join hands with the Vietnamese side to strengthen strategic mutual trust and coordination, enhance cooperation in areas such as political work, maritime security, joint exercises and personnel training, and elevate the military-to-military relations to a new level.
Journalist: The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment released by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence claims that China is the biggest military and cyber threat for the US, and that the PLA likely will use large language models for information operations to generate deceptive content. What's your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: The US often accuses others of what it did or is doing itself. The US is not only the main source of cyber attacks against China but also a well-known cyber threat to the world. From WikiLeaks to Snowden, Stellar Wind, and Telescreen, the US side has a poor record on cyber issues. It would stop at nothing to conduct surveillance, steal secrets and attack others. Smearing China can not help remove the US label as the empire of hacking. We require the US side to stop acting like a thief crying "stop thief", refrain from launching cyber attacks against other countries including China, and restore a clean and secure cyberspace with responsible words and actions.
Journalist: Japanese media outlets recently disclosed that the Japan-US joint exercise Keen Edge 24 featured a "Taiwan contingency" scenario for the first time by simulating fighter jets launching anti-ship missile strikes against a PLA landing fleet. What’s your comment?
Zhang Xiaogang: It is our consistent position that military cooperation between the US and Japan should not target any third party or jeopardize regional peace and development. The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, and resolving it is a matter for the Chinese. The hype over a so-called "Taiwan contingency" by certain parties is nothing but an attempt to fan the flames and stir up troubles. No one should underestimate the strong will and ability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Those who insist on using the "Taiwan card" to interfere in China's internal affairs or even overreach themselves with military provocations, will inevitably pay an unbearable price.
Journalist: It's reported that the US defense budget for fiscal year 2026 might reach $1 trillion for the first time and it would be used to enhance lethality and readiness. May I have your comments on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. The sky-high defense budget exposed once again the bellicose nature of the US side and its belief in "might makes right". The US government is in heavy debt, yet it keeps pouring ill-gotten wealth exploited from other countries into manufacturing weapons. We hope the US side will break away from the obsession with hegemony at an early date and recognize that wanton use of force will not make America great again but only inflict painful disasters upon the people of the US and the rest of the world.
Journalist: According to reports, Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan would refrain from imposing retaliatory tariffs against the US. Instead, he asserted that "enduring hardship is a means of self-improvement" and pledged to make large-scale purchases of US agricultural, industrial, and energy products, as well as weapons. Please comment on that.
Zhang Xiaogang: The Lai Ching-te authorities disregard the interests of local industries and residents, and curry favor with its "foreign master" for support. In essence, it is "offering up Taiwan's resources to win the favor of the US." Such unconditional concessions will only deplete Taiwan's future and undermine the well-being of the people. The attempts of the DPP authorities to solicit US support for "Taiwan independence" and resist reunification by force will prove a dead end.