Chinese Defense Minister: The unification of the PRC with Taiwan is inexorable

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth in Malaysia on Friday that the “unification” of mainland China and Taiwan is “the inexorable course of history.” Beijing's representative called on Washington to take a clear stance against the island's independence.

Their conversation took place in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the meeting of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to a statement from Beijing, Dong called on the US to “strengthen trust and dispel uncertainty” between the two powers. He also called on “the United States to exercise caution in words and actions regarding Taiwan.”

In his statement, Hegseth described the talks as “good and constructive.”

– I stressed the importance of maintaining the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region and expressed US concerns about China's actions in the South China Sea, around Taiwan and towards US allies and partners – said the Pentagon chief.

Beijing considers democratically ruled Taiwan its rebellious province. On Wednesday, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Peng Qing'en, stated during a press briefing that China “has absolutely no obligation to refrain from using force (to take control of Taiwan – PAP) and reserves the right to take all necessary measures.”

Washington, although it does not formally recognize Taiwan, has committed to providing it with weapons for defense purposes.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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