- China’s Defense Ministry criticized Taiwan’s induction of M1A2T tanks, calling the ceremony a political display by pro-independence forces.
- Spokesperson Jiao Bin said the PLA has the capability to defend China’s territorial claims and warned that “seeking independence by force is a dead end.”
China’s Ministry of National Defense issued a sharp warning to Taiwan after the island’s army held a ceremony to induct newly delivered U.S.-made M1A2T main battle tanks. The comments were delivered by Senior Colonel Jiao Bin, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press briefing on November 7.
The question referred to remarks by Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te, who said the enhancement of Taiwan’s defenses is intended to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, adding that “only strength can bring real peace.” Jiao rejected that position and described the ceremony as political theater.
In a statement, Jiao said, “The ‘Taiwan independence’ forces are fully aware of the military balance across the strait. Their loud and exaggerated displays are simply an attempt to shore up their own confidence and mislead the people of Taiwan.” He added that these demonstrations do not alter the People’s Liberation Army’s posture. “The PLA’s determination and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be challenged by the Taiwan military displaying a few U.S.-made weapons.”
Jiao went on to say that any attempt to resist reunification through military means would fail. “The ‘Taiwan independence’ forces’ resistance cannot stop the rolling wheel of history,” he said. He issued a direct warning to Lai and those aligned with him: “Seeking independence by force is a dead end. Only by completely abandoning separatist plans and following the historical trend of cross-strait reunification can real peace be brought to Taiwan.”
The comments came shortly after Taiwan’s formal induction of M1A2T tanks supplied through U.S. foreign military sales. The M1A2T is a variant of the Abrams tank tailored for Taiwan’s terrain and network infrastructure. Taiwan has described the new armor as part of a broader effort to strengthen deterrence across the strait. Beijing, however, views such moves as steps toward hardening a pro-independence political stance.
The spokesperson’s remarks also reflected China’s long-standing position that Taiwan is part of its territory and that the PLA maintains readiness to enforce that claim. The reference to “the rolling wheel of history” signals Beijing’s continued emphasis on unification as inevitable.