The United States recently announced its large-scale arms sales to China’s Taiwan Region. This seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it. China has decided to take countermeasures in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions against 20 U.S. military-related companies and 10 senior executives who have engaged in arming Taiwan in recent years.

Starting from December 29, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct joint military drills code-named “Justice Mission 2025” in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of the Taiwan Island, focusing on subjects of sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain. With vessels and aircraft approaching the Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults so as to test their joint operations capabilities. It is a stern warning against “Taiwan Independence” separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.

The “Taiwan independence” separatist forces on the island attempt to advance their independence agenda and resist reunification through military buildup, squander the taxpayers’ money to purchase weapons, and even risk turning Taiwan into a “powder keg.” Such moves will not reverse the inevitable failure of “Taiwan independence,” and will only push the Taiwan Strait into the danger of military conflict at a faster pace. For the U.S., assisting the “independence” agenda by arming Taiwan will only backfire, and using Taiwan to contain China will never succeed.

China stresses once again that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. Anyone who attempts to cross the line and make provocations on the Taiwan question will be met with China’s firm response. Any company or individual who engages in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for the wrongdoing. No country or force shall ever underestimate the resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China will continue to take resolute measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.