European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a sweeping 800-billion-euro defense plan on Tuesday, aiming to boost the EU's military capabilities and reduce its reliance on United States.
She said that in response to President Donald Trump's decision to pause all U.S. aid to Ukraine and escalating security threats across the European Union, Europe had entered "an era of rearmament."
As part of the plan, the commission will also provide 150 billion euros of loans to member states for defense investment.
European Commission announces 800-billion-euro defense plan to boost bloc's security
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are just pursuing self-consolation in its attempt to seek secession by relying on the external forces, said Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
Jiang made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry on an unclassified version of the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) released by the Pentagon on Jan 23, placing defense of the U.S. homeland and the U.S. interests across the Western Hemisphere above all other military priorities.
Some analysts in Taiwan have noticed that the newly released U.S. NDS did not mention the island.
"The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. China will never waver in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. We've said it before that the DPP authorities are only pursuing self-consolation in its attempt to seek secession by relying on external forces. If they are willing to be a pawn, they are doomed to be abandoned," said Jiang.
Defense ministry spokesman warns Taiwan secessionists of fate of 'abandoned pawn'
