China’s defense minister Li Shangfu on Tuesday warned against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States as he addressed a security conference in Russia.
Speaking at the Moscow Conference on International Security, Li said attempts to “use Taiwan to contain China,” would “surely end in failure,” according to state-run news agency Xinhua. Li’s comments echoed previous statements by Chinese officials but the location of his speech was significant and symbolic given Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary.
Russian state-run media Sputnik also cited Li as saying that military relations between China and Russia do not target any third party – a point Chinese officials have made in the past. The Xinhua report did not include the statement. Li met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu to discuss cooperation between the two countries’ militaries, Xinhua said. China and Russia regularly carry out joint exercises – including a joint naval patrol off the coast of Alaska in recent weeks.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Will not back down over China threats, Taiwan VP says on US tripThe Taiwanese Vice President is travelling to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president and will also have a stopover in New York on August 12, a trip to the US that China has denounced.
Read more »
Taiwan VP vows to stand firm amid pressure from ChinaTaiwanese Vice President William Lai struck a defiant tone toward China during a visit to the United States on Monday, vowing that the U.S.-backed island democracy won’t back down in the face of threats from Beijing.
Read more »
Vivek Ramaswamy suggests he would let China invade Taiwan post-2029 if elected presidentRepublican hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy wants China to hold off invading Taiwan until he’s had four years to attain US “semiconductor independence.”
Read more »
Taiwan Vice President Flashes Defiance Against China During U.S. StopoverLai Ching-te spoke in New York on the first leg of a U.S. visit that Beijing and Washington are both watching closely.
Read more »
Vivek Ramaswamy cuts off interview after floating plan to let China attack Taiwan after 2028Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping should postpone any invasion of Taiwan until after the United States achieves “semiconductor independence” by 2028, according to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Read more »
China military action to US stopover would be election interference, Taiwan VP saysAny Chinese military action in response to stopovers in the U.S. by Taiwan Vice President William Lai would be an attempt by China to interfere in the island's elections, Lai said during a trip to Paraguay.
Read more »