China’s Defenders Sound the Horn on Taiwan—And Demand the U.S. Stay Out of It
Picture a dimly lit conference room in Phnom Pèn, Cambodia, where Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin were exchanging words that could make a pineapple peel its own back.
The Core Issue: Taiwan
Wei flashed his seasoned smile and said it was no fancy emoji: “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s soul.” He warned that the political status of Taiwan is a “red‑line”—the kind of barrier that, if crossed, would make a geographer break a pencil in half.
U.S. Nations in Nerves and Numbers
During the South‑East‑Asian defence chiefs’ meet, Wei insisted that no foreign hand can tell the Chinese people what to do about Taiwan. He urged the U.S. to respect China’s core interests and promised that a “rational, practical” strategy could mend the frayed China‑U.S. relations.
How China Considers Taiwan
Beijing’s line is blunt: Taiwan is not a bargaining chip—it’s water‑under‑the‑bridge for the Chinese nation. This line, drawn in crayon for the first time in the 1950s and never erased, remains unshakable.
Accusatory Audio from the Chinese Media
Earlier that week, Chinese state media floated a statement from defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei. He’d blamed the U.S. for the spoiling of relations, labeling the American strategy “a wrong strategic judgement.” Tan added the sharp jab: China isn’t responsible for the dip in relations.
Key Takeaways in a Nutshell
- China’s stance on Taiwan: non‑negotiable core interest.
- U.S. mandate from Wei: stay respectful, adopt practical policies.
- Chinese defence ministry’s message to the U.S.: blame lies with America.
Bottom line? In the political tea‑cup, China has set its cup to stay untouched, while U.S. sip has to be measured with caution, lest the cup spill over into a diplomatic disaster.
