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 the Honduras-Taiwan Relationship
16 December 2025
Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, when asked how Taiwan can maintain friendly relations with Honduras while competing with mainland China, said that “Taiwan is building a relationship based on trust and prosperity.”
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ response:
Guo Jiakun: Under the banner of “trust” and “prosperity,” the Taiwan authorities are engaging in so-called “dollar diplomacy,” which cannot conceal their true nature of pursuing “independence” by any means, nor can it deceive public opinion or the people on the island. The “Taiwan independence” forces and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities are going against the tide of history and are destined to fail. Since China and Honduras established diplomatic relations, cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, significantly enhancing Honduras’ long-term development capacity and bringing tremendous benefits to both countries and their peoples. The facts fully demonstrate that upholding the one-China principle accords with the trend of historical development and the progress of the times, and serves the fundamental interests of the countries concerned and their peoples.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on the Taiwanese Special Defense Budget
17 December 2025
On President Lai Ching-te’s proposed US$40 billion special budget for purchasing armaments from the United States:
Zhu Fenglian: The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, and resolving it is a matter for the Chinese people alone, allowing no external interference. The Lai Ching-te administration, for the selfish interests of its party, continues to provoke “Taiwan independence,” repeatedly increases the defense budget, and pushes a “whole-of-society militarization,” tying the people of Taiwan to the separatist bandwagon. Its attempts to “rely on foreign forces to seek independence” and “use force to seek independence” threaten the safety and interests of the Taiwan people. “Taiwan independence” is a dead end; outsiders cannot be relied upon; reunification cannot be stopped. We have firm will, strong determination, and powerful capability to crush all separatist schemes for “Taiwan independence,” to resolutely oppose external interference, and to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on the Announcement of US Arms Sales to Taiwan
18 December 2025
On the news that the U.S. has initiated arms sales to Taiwan totaling about US$11 billion, one of the largest such packages:
Guo Jiakun: The U.S. has openly announced a massive plan to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, gravely harms China’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, severely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this.
The “Taiwan independence” separatist forces on the island are seeking “independence through armed means” and “resisting reunification with weapons,” squandering taxpayers’ money to purchase weaponry and willing to turn Taiwan into a “powder keg.” This will not save the doomed fate of “Taiwan independence.” It will only accelerate the region’s slide toward heightened tension and danger. The U.S. policy of “supporting independence with weapons” will only backfire on itself, and attempts to “use Taiwan to contain China” will never succeed.
The Taiwan question is the core of China’s core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. No one should underestimate the strong will and powerful capability of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China urges the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, honor the serious commitments made by its leaders, and immediately stop its dangerous act of arming Taiwan. China will take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on Announcement of US Arms Sales to Taiwan
18 December 2025
Continued arms sales commentary, this time from the Taiwan Affairs Office:
Chen Binhua: The Taiwan question concerns China’s core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. side has brazenly announced a massive arms sale plan to China’s Taiwan region, crudely interfering in China’s internal affairs and seriously violating the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué. It gravely harms China’s sovereignty and security interests and sends a serious wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. We firmly oppose this and strongly condemn it. We demand that the U.S. immediately stop “arming Taiwan,” stop condoning and supporting “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, abide by the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, honor the commitments made by U.S. leaders, and handle the Taiwan issue with the utmost caution.
The DPP authorities stubbornly pursue “seeking independence by relying on the U.S.” and “seeking independence by force,” constantly hyping so-called “defense resolve,” and are willing to turn Taiwan into a “powder keg” and an “ammunition depot,” even at the cost of turning the Taiwanese people into cannon fodder for “Taiwan independence.” This will only bring grave disaster to Taiwan compatriots and fully expose their vicious nature as “destroyers of peace,” “creators of crises,” and “instigators of war.” People across Taiwan should clearly recognize the DPP authorities’ bottomless, pernicious essence of “selling out Taiwan and courting war.” We solemnly warn the DPP authorities that national reunification is an unstoppable trend; if “Taiwan independence” separatist forces dare to cross the red line, we will resolutely strike back.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on a Planned Radar Station on Kitadaito, Okinawa’s Easternmost Island
18 December 2025
On the news that Japan’s Ministry of Defense signed a land lease agreement on the 15th, planning to deploy mobile radar equipment on the easternmost island of Okinawa to monitor the activities of Chinese aircraft carriers and aircraft in the waters between Okinawa and Miyako Island:
Guo Jiakun: In the relevant sea and air areas, all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law.
Due to the history of Japanese militarist aggression, Japan’s military and security moves have long drawn close attention from its Asian neighbors and the international community. Japan has repeatedly strengthened targeted military deployments near Taiwan, and has even stated its intention to deploy intermediate-range missiles. Now it is further escalating by planning to deploy radar and troops to spy on its neighbors. Taken together with Prime Minister Takaichi’s series of erroneous and dangerous remarks regarding Taiwan, one must ask: Is Japan deliberately stirring up trouble, provoking China at close range, and seeking excuses to justify its military expansion and operations abroad? Is Japan following the design of right-wing forces to once again embark on the dangerous and disastrous path of militarism?
We urge Japan to learn from the lessons of history!