Chinese defense minister Wei Fenghe has said that they will "not hesitate to start a war" if Taiwan declares independence during face-to-face talks with U.S. defense minister Lloyd Austin on Friday in Singapore, according to China’s defense spokesman Wu Qian.
The Chinese defense minister said "If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost" and added that China would "smash to smithereens any 'Taiwan independence' plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland".
He also said that "Taiwan is China's Taiwan... Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail".
Austin told the Chinese defense minister that Beijing must "refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan", according to the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon released a statement after the meeting that said "The Secretary reiterated to General Wei that the United States remains committed to our longstanding one-China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances".
"The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Strait, opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and called on the PRC to refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan".
Wu said that the talks were "a good start" and stated a desire to meet with Austin again while he was visiting Asia.
The Chinese defense minister said "If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost" and added that China would "smash to smithereens any 'Taiwan independence' plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland".
He also said that "Taiwan is China's Taiwan... Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail".
Austin told the Chinese defense minister that Beijing must "refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan", according to the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon released a statement after the meeting that said "The Secretary reiterated to General Wei that the United States remains committed to our longstanding one-China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances".
"The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Strait, opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and called on the PRC to refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan".
Wu said that the talks were "a good start" and stated a desire to meet with Austin again while he was visiting Asia.