China's Ministry of National Defense has issued a stark warning against efforts to promote Taiwan's independence, calling such activities "the gravest challenge" to the post-World War II international framework. The statement follows recent U.S.-linked claims questioning Taiwan's political status under historical agreements.
Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang reiterated Thursday that Taiwan's return to China was legally affirmed through the 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, both signed by Allied powers including the U.S. "Japan's 1945 surrender instrument explicitly reaffirmed these provisions," Zhang noted, emphasizing that these documents form the bedrock of China's sovereignty claims over the island.
The remarks came in response to assertions by the American Institute in Taiwan that wartime agreements did not determine Taiwan's ultimate status. Zhang accused the U.S. of "reviving outdated fallacies" despite its historical role in shaping the post-war order.
"Attempts to deny China's sovereignty over the Taiwan region not only violate international law but directly threaten peace across the Taiwan Strait," the spokesperson warned. Beijing maintains that cross-strait relations must be handled under the one-China principle, which recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
Analysts suggest the statement reflects growing concerns about U.S.-Taiwan interactions ahead of political transitions in both Washington and Taipei. The development comes as regional tensions rise over trade routes and semiconductor supply chains critical to global markets.
