Author: Ethan Connell
Here’s the latest edition of the TSM PRC State Media Tracker. Each Friday, we highlight key excerpts from China’s state media organs, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Taiwan Affairs Office, all below!
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on Radar Illumination Incident with JSDF Fighters
8 December 2025
Guo Jiakun: China has already stated its stern position on this issue. The facts are very clear. The training activities conducted by the Chinese side in the relevant sea and airspace are in line with international law and international practice. The operations involved were professional, standardized, and beyond reproach. When carrier-based aircraft turn on their search radar during flight training, this is common practice for all countries and a normal operation to ensure flight safety.
The crux of this incident is that Japanese fighter jets intruded without authorization into China’s training area, conducting close-in reconnaissance and interference against Chinese military activities, and then, as the guilty party, they were the first to lodge accusations, hyping up the so-called “radar illumination” issue, turning black into white and shifting blame onto others, misleading the international community. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this, and has lodged stern representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side.
Anyone with clear eyes can see that the Japanese side is deliberately spreading and hyping up false information in the field of military security at this time, playing up tensions for entirely ulterior motives. We strongly urge Japan to immediately stop dangerous activities that disrupt China’s normal training operations, and to cease all irresponsible false hype and political manipulation.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on the US National Security Strategy
8 December 2025
Guo Jiakun: We have noted the U.S. government’s release of the National Security Strategy report. China has always believed that when China and the United States work together, both benefit; when they confront each other, both are harmed. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are the right ways for China and the United States to interact, and the only correct and realistic choice. China is willing to work with the U.S. to promote the stable development of China–U.S. relations, while firmly safeguarding its own sovereignty, security, and development interests. We hope the U.S. will move in the same direction as China, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences, and push for stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China–U.S. relations, injecting more certainty and stability into the world.
Regarding the Taiwan question, we would like to emphasize that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and an inseparable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan question is the core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China–U.S. relations. How the Taiwan question is resolved is a matter for the Chinese people and not subject to external interference. The U.S. should faithfully abide by the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, honor the commitments made by U.S. leaders, handle the Taiwan question with the utmost prudence, and stop condoning or supporting “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in seeking independence through armed means or resisting reunification with force. China’s determination and will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity are unwavering.”
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on Tariff Negotiations Between the US and Taiwan
10 December 2025
Chen Binhua: The Lai Ching-te authorities, in order to “rely on external forces to seek independence,” have shown bottomless eagerness to ingratiate themselves with the United States. In the tariff negotiations, they “knelt before negotiating,” “offered the other cheek after being slapped,” and even repeatedly deceived the public. In terms of industry, they have allowed the United States to take whatever it wants, voluntarily handing over TSMC and allowing it to extract all remaining value from Taiwan’s advantageous industries. Previously, TSMC was forced to announce an additional USD 100 billion investment in the United States, which already caused panic within Taiwan’s industry and widespread public resentment. If this USD 300 billion investment materializes, it will undoubtedly deliver a huge blow to Taiwan’s economy, further weakening its growth momentum and autonomy. We are gravely concerned about this. We hope the people of Taiwan and all those with insight from various sectors will unite and take action to firmly oppose the Lai Ching-te authorities’ pro-U.S. behaviors and actively safeguard their own interests.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on the San Francisco Treaty and the China-Taiwan Relationship
10 December 2025
Chen Binhua: The so-called “San Francisco Peace Treaty” was a product of the United States gathering a very small number of countries after World War II to conclude a separate peace with Japan. The treaty violated the provisions of the 1942 Declaration by the United Nations, which stated that “no signatory government shall make a separate armistice or peace with the enemy,” and also violated the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which stipulates that “a treaty may not create obligations or rights for a third state without its consent.” Therefore, it had no authority to dispose of matters such as Taiwan’s sovereignty or any sovereign rights or territory involving China, which was not a contracting party. It is illegal and invalid, and has no effect under international law. From the outset, the Chinese government has solemnly declared that it absolutely does not recognize it.
There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China. A series of international legal documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, clearly and unequivocally confirm China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China replacing the “Government of the Republic of China” was a change of government under the same subject of international law—China—and did not alter Taiwan’s status as part of China’s territory. The DPP authorities, relying on an invalid treaty, are once again recycling the cliché of the two sides of the Strait being “not subordinate to each other,” attempting to confuse the public, mislead opinion, and challenge the internationally recognized one-China principle. This completely ignores the facts and will only bring disgrace upon themselves.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on Taiwan “Strengthening its Defense Capabilities”
11 December 2025
Chen Binhua: Lai Ching-te is once again distorting facts and making irresponsible remarks; once again clamoring for “seeking independence through force” and “seeking independence by relying on external forces”; and once again hyping the false narrative of “democracy versus authoritarianism,” attempting to deceive the Taiwan public and mislead international opinion. Under the guise of “democracy” and “peace,” he is in fact aggressively pursuing militarization and colluding with external forces to continue provoking with attempts at “Taiwan independence,” thereby exposing once more his obstinate “Taiwan independence” nature and his true identity as a “destroyer of peace,” “creator of crises,” and “instigator of conflict.”
Since taking office, Lai Ching-te has stubbornly upheld a “Taiwan independence” stance, vigorously promoting separatist fallacies, and continuously stoking confrontation and hostility across the Strait. For the sake of partisan and personal interests, he has squandered public resources, pushed for “preparing for war to pursue independence” and “militarizing society,” dragging Taiwan into dangerous circumstances marked by rising tensions and potential conflict, and binding the people to the reckless path of “Taiwan independence” separatism. On the island, he has practiced “authoritarian rule,” repeatedly trampling on democracy and undermining freedoms, abusing judicial power to suppress political opponents, and continually creating a climate of “green terror” and a “chilling effect.” Filled with confrontational thinking, he severely violates public sentiment on the island and gravely harms democracy and the rule of law. He is both the instigator of tension and instability in the Taiwan Strait and the primary source of division within Taiwan society, and thus has no qualification to speak of “democracy” or “peace.”