Spokesperson's Remarks｜China urges U.S. and Philippines not to make provocation on Taiwan question

Responding to media inquiry that a Philippine brigadier general claimed that Manila regards the annual joint military exercise with the U.S. launched on Monday as a rehearsal for their defense, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and is at the core of China's core interest. China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability.

Guo noted that with the world being hit by unilateralism, protectionism and bullying, countries in this region have been calling for greater solidarity, coordination, and joint efforts to keep the region stable and respond to challenges. Against this backdrop, the Philippines chose to conduct the large-scale military drills with this country outside the region and brought in strategic and tactical weapons to the detriment of regional strategic stability and regional economic prospects, which puts them on the opposite side of regional countries. This act has been detested and opposed by regional countries.

"We urge relevant sides not to make provocation on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it." Guo said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)