(30 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing – 30 May 2024
1. Wide of Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian walking to podium
2. Cutaway of journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wu Qian, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson:
“Taiwan’s independence means war, and division brings no peace. With the sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity on our shoulders, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is fully prepared and stays highly vigilant. We will take resolute actions to smash any Taiwan independence separatist attempts and thwart any foreign interference.”
4. Journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wu Qian, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson:
“We are closely following the developments. We firmly oppose the relevant country cobbling together targeted small groups and undermining regional peace and stability. Chinese people love peace but have not and will never be deterred by external forces.”
6. Wide of journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wu Qian, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson:
“That China and the U.S. military maintain strategic communication at the senior level will help stabilize the relationship and enhance mutual understanding between the two militaries, and China is open to this.”
8. Cutaway of journalists
9. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China’s Defence Ministry on Thursday renewed its threat of war against Taiwan, a week after new President Lai Ching-te of the self-governing island was sworn in.
“Taiwan’s independence means war, and division brings no peace,” the ministry’s spokesperson Wu Qian said at a monthly briefing when asked about the inauguration speech of Lai, who refused to accept Beijing’s insistence that Taiwan is part of China.
“Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is fully prepared and stays highly vigilant. We will take resolute actions to smash any Taiwan independence separatist attempts and thwart any foreign interference,” Wu warned.
In his speech last Monday, Lai urged China to stop its military threats and intimidation and maintained that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation.
In response, China has sent dozens of warplanes and navy vessels off Taiwan’s coast for a large exercise.
Commenting on the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled from Jun 26 to Aug 2 led by the U.S., Wu said China is “closely following the developments.”
“We firmly oppose the relevant country cobbling together targeted small groups and undermining regional peace and stability,” Wu underscored, saying Chinese people won’t be deterred.
Forces from nearly 29 countries, including the U.S. European allies and regional countries such as Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, are expected to participate in the world’s largest international maritime drill.
The U.S. had included China in the past two versions of the naval exercise known as Rim of the Pacific, or RimPac, in 2014 and 2016 as part of efforts by the Obama administration to stabilize military relations with Beijing.
Separately, Wu said China is “open” to high-level strategic communication with the U.S. military when asked about the potential meeting between the two defense ministers on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The talks, if happen, would be Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jung’s first face-to-face meeting with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin since November 2022.
AP video shot by Borg Wong
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