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 Signing of the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act
3 December 2025
Lin Jian: China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the United States and the Taiwan region of China. This position is consistent and clear.
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China–U.S. relations. In the China–U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, the U.S. government explicitly committed that “the United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” We urge the U.S. side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, exercise extreme prudence in handling Taiwan-related issues, stop all official interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on Taiwan’s Announced “Special Defense Budget”
3 December 2025
Zhang Han: Lai Ching-te, who ingratiates himself with external forces without principle and sells out Taiwan without any bottom line, is racing headlong down the path of seeking “independence” through provocations and reckless militarism. He is squandering the hard-earned money of the people, pushing a policy of “everyone a soldier,” and is willing to turn Taiwan into a battlefield and its people into cannon fodder. Money that could have been used to improve people’s livelihoods is instead being wasted on buying weapons and enriching foreign arms dealers, which will only push Taiwan into an ever more dangerous situation of looming war.
“Taiwan independence” means war. We hope that our compatriots in Taiwan will clearly recognize the extreme danger and harm of Lai Ching-te’s attempt to ‘provoke war through Taiwan independence,’ firmly oppose “Taiwan independence” separatism and external interference, and join us in bringing cross-Strait relations back onto the right track of peaceful development, genuinely safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and their own security and well-being. We sternly warn Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities: do not play with fire—those who play with fire will surely burn themselves. Seeking “independence” by force and recklessly taking desperate risks will only dig your own grave!
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on “One Country – Two Systems”
3 December 2025
Zhang Han: Lai Ching-te is arbitrarily clamping down on the freedom of Taiwan’s people to take part in cross-Strait exchanges and crudely depriving ordinary people of their right to pursue a better life, fully exposing his nature of “terror politics and green dictatorship.”
“One country, two systems” is a peaceful, democratic, well-intentioned, and win–win proposal. After reunification, with the strong motherland as a backing, the livelihoods and well-being of Taiwan compatriots will improve, their development space will expand, they will be safer and enjoy greater dignity, and they will be able to stand taller and more confidently on the international stage. Taiwan will enjoy lasting peace, and the people will live and work in contentment. Taiwan compatriots will, together with compatriots on the mainland, share in the dignity and glory of our great country and embrace a bright future of prosperity and stability.
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and concerns the national sentiments of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people; it is a red line that absolutely must not be crossed. If “Taiwan independence” separatist forces dare to breach this red line, we will certainly take resolute action and strike them head-on. We will continue, on the basis of the one-China principle, to conduct broad exchanges of views and in-depth consultations with political parties, groups, and people from all walks of life in Taiwan on cross-Strait relations and national reunification, and jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.
Taiwan Affairs Office Statement on Prime Minister Takaichi’s Refusal to Retract Comments on Taiwan
3 December 2025
Zhang Han: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery, and the 82nd anniversary of the Cairo Declaration. The Cairo Declaration and a series of other international legal instruments are major outcomes of the world anti-fascist war. They affirm from the perspective of international law China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and form an important part of the post-war international order. Observing the relevant provisions is an international legal obligation that Japan must assume.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan interfere in China’s internal affairs, send a wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on its historical crimes, withdraw its erroneous statements, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and faithfully abide by the one-China principle and its political commitments to China through concrete actions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on President Lai’s Comments at the New York Times DealBook Summit
5 December 2025
Lin Jian: By providing a platform for the leader of the Taiwan authorities to peddle “Taiwan independence” separatist fallacies, the relevant U.S. media outlet has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, and sent a gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China firmly opposes this.
Lai Ching-te’s words and deeds once again expose his true nature as a diehard “Taiwan independence” element and his sinister scheme of “relying on the United States to seek independence.” They once again prove that he is a “peace saboteur” and a “troublemaker.” We urge the U.S. side to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question and to implement in earnest the commitments made by its leaders. Whatever Lai Ching-te says or does is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot — it is doomed to fail.