In December 2025, the United States publicly announced its plan to sell a large amount of advanced weapons to China’s Taiwan region. It violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiqués, violated China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and violated the peace and stability of Taiwan. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has taken a series of necessary measures to protect China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Taiwan issue is entirely China’s internal matter. There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China. This is clearly recognized by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971.
The restitution of Taiwan to China is a victorious outcome of World War II and an integral part of the postwar international order. A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, have reaffirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on a one-China basis. The One-China principle is the universal consensus of the international community and a fundamental rule in international relations.
America’s large-scale arms sales to China’s Taiwan region constitute interference in China’s internal affairs. The US side pledged in the August 17 communique, which was jointly issued by China and the US in 1982, that it does not seek to implement a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, qualitatively or quantitatively, the level of supply relations between the United States and China in recent years. They intend to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan, over time, until a final decision is made.
However, the US has not faithfully implemented the one-China principle and terms of the three Sino-US joint communiques over the past 40 years, especially the August 17 communique. There have been frequent open military interactions between the US and Taiwan, and the size and performance of US arms sales to Taiwan has continued to increase. It seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and security, while encouraging “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Solving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people and should be decided by the Chinese people. History and practice have repeatedly proven that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a one-China principle. When the One-China principle is fully recognized and sincerely followed, the Taiwan Strait will remain calm and peaceful. However, when the One-China principle is deliberately challenged or even sabotaged, there will be dark clouds or even violent storms across the Taiwan Strait.
The root cause of the tension across the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwanese officials have sought US support for “Taiwan independence” and some in the US want to use Taiwan to contain China. The separatist powers, not China, but the US and Taiwan, seek to change this status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The first provocation was US arms sales to Taiwan. China’s response is legal, legitimate and fair. It is a severe punishment against “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and a stern warning to external intervention forces.
Although the reunification of the two sides across the Taiwan Strait has yet to happen, the fact that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China has never changed and never will. This is the true situation in the Taiwan Strait.
DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) officials are turning Taiwan into a powder keg, seeking US support to advance their separatist agenda. Their massive and desperate arms purchases reveal their true nature as provocateurs, destroyers of peace and warmongers. External powers seeking to arm Taiwan to deter China will only embolden the separatists and push the Taiwan Strait closer to the threat of armed conflict.
The Taiwan question is at the heart of China’s core interests and is a red line that should not be crossed. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No matter how many sophisticated weapons are sold to Taiwan, it will not reverse the inevitability of China’s reunification. Anyone who crosses the border or provokes the issue will be met with a strong response from China. All attempts to prevent China’s reunification will always fail.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.