Chinese Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe drew China’s red line on Taiwan today when he met, for the first time, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore today. “There is only one China, and Taiwan is a sacred, inalienable part of China’s territory,” Wei told Austin, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian said at a press conference after the meeting, reported by the Global Times. Wu noted that if anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate to fight, and will resolutely crush any “Taiwan independence” attempts at all cost to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Wu characterized the conversation as a frank, positive and constructive strategic communication. Both sides agreed that the two militaries should carefully implement the key consensus reached by the two countries’ top leaders, keep frequent communication and manage risks and crises, Wu said.
