Chinese Defense Spokesman Insists U.S. Must Respect Beijing’s Core Interests If It Wants Military Dialogue

Dec. 30, 2022 (EIRNS)—Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, during the ministry’s monthly press briefing yesterday, said that if the U.S. is truly interested in positive and constructive dialogue and exchanges with China, it must show its sincerity with practical actions, and earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, in order to create the conditions for military-to-military relations to get back on the right track, reported CGTN. Tan said China’s cancellation of three exchanges between the two militaries, in the aftermath of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last summer, was a necessary countermeasure against Pelosi’s visit. Tan said that it created a major crisis, and caused serious damage to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The cause and effect are clear, and the U.S. side knows that,” he added.

China attaches great importance to developing China-U.S. military relations, and the communication between the two militaries at the working level has never been interrupted, Tan said. However, he continued, the U.S. cannot seek to resume all-round dialogue and exchanges with China while constantly damaging China’s interests at the same time, let alone confusing the whole story and then blaming China for the cancellation of some military exchanges.

Regarding Chinese military activities around Taiwan, Tan said that they are targeted at “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and external interferences, aiming to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He pointed out that such military actions by the PLA would be taken wherever there are people who forget their heritage, betray their motherland, and seek to split the country.

Tan also called on the U.S. to stop hyping the alleged China threat in space, and instead take an active part in international space arms control. “The U.S. believes that anyone’s growing capabilities pose a threat to itself, which is void of any logic or sense,” he said. “It is essentially an excuse for the U.S. to weaponize space, turn it into a battlefield, and seek space domination while shifting the blame to others. China strongly opposes such a sinister trick, of spreading the ‘China threat theory’ in the space domain.”

Tan noted that long ago, China announced that its space station would be open to all UN member states in an effort to create a space home for all mankind, which has been highly commended in the international community. “This poses a sharp contrast to what a certain country has done—blatantly defining space as a war domain, forming the space command and space force, aggressively developing and deploying offensive space weapons, and frequently conducting military offensive and defensive exercises and technological experiments. The world sees clearly who is preserving peace and promoting cooperation, and who is stirring up competition and clamoring for confrontation,” Tan said.