China White Paper: U.S. Threatens Global Stability

Date: 24 July 2019 - 21:11

News ID: ۶۸۵۰۳

BEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday accused the United States of undermining global stability with unilateral policies and "power politics” as the Defense Ministry issued the first comprehensive outline of its policies since President Xi Jinping came to power more than six years ago.
The U.S. was the first country mentioned in the document’s opening section about "prominent destabilizing factors” and "profound changes” in the international security environment.
"The U.S. has adjusted its national security and defense strategies, and adopted unilateral policies,” China said in the document. "It has provoked and intensified competition among countries, significantly increased its defense expenditure ... and undermined global strategic stability.”
It’s the 10th white paper of its kind since 1998. The last one was published in 2011, two years before Xi became president.
The document said China will not renounce the use of force in efforts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and vowed to take all necessary military measures to defeat "separatists.”
China listed among its top priorities its resolve to contain "Taiwan independence” and combat what it considers separatist forces in Tibet and the far west region of Xinjiang. While highlighting China’s "defensive” approach, the report also pledged to "surely counterattack if attacked.”
China’s paramilitary police have helped Xinjiang authorities "take out 1,588 violent terrorist gangs and capture 12,995 terrorists,” the report said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the threat of Taiwan separatism is growing and warned that those who are seeking the democratic island’s independence will meet a dead end.
"If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will certainly fight, resolutely defending the country’s sovereign unity and territorial integrity,” Wu said.
Taiwan split from the Communist Party-ruled mainland China amid civil war in 1949. China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and seeks "complete reunification.”
The U.S. has repeatedly raised Beijing’s ire by selling arms to Taiwan. While the U.S. does not have formal diplomatic ties with the island, U.S. law requires that it provide Taiwan with sufficient defense equipment and services for self-defense.
Earlier this month, the U.S. tentatively approved the sale of $2.2 billion in arms to Taiwan — a proposal that had prompted China to threaten sanctions against the U.S. Taiwan’s defense ministry said it made the request in light of a growing military threat from China.
"The Western world, led by the United States, continues to strengthen its ability to contain China,” said Hong Kong-based military analyst Song Zhongping. U.S. actions on Taiwan, the South China Sea, North Korea and Iran have all contributed to making the U.S. the "initiator” of China’s security concerns, he said.