The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army completed the 28th rotation on Friday since it began garrisoning Hong Kong in 1997.
Approved by the Central Military Commission, the move is a routine annual rotation in line with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Garrisoning the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The officers and soldiers leaving Hong Kong on rotation had successfully completed all tasks centered on defense during their garrisoning in Hong Kong.
On Friday night, the new PLA Land Force personnel passed through the Huanggang Port border post in south China's Shenzhen City and entered Hong Kong via Lok Ma Chau.
A handover ceremony was held after they arrived at the garrison barracks. After the ceremony, the departing troops returned to the mainland.
"Before the arrival, we have organized targeted learning and training. All officers and soldiers rotating into Hong Kong have the confidence and capability to fulfill our defense duties, make greater contributions to safeguarding national security and Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and advance the steady and long-term implementation of One Country, Two Systems policy in Hong Kong," said Xu Guoxing, an officer from the Hong Kong Garrison.
On Friday morning, servicemen from the PLA Navy and Air Force departed from the military port and airbase in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, respectively, and completed the rotation and handover after arriving in Hong Kong.
PLA garrison in Hong Kong completes 28th routine rotation
The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, in commenting on Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini, which had to be canceled after relevant African countries revoked the necessary flight permissions.
"All African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. These 53 countries together with the African Union have adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 FOCAC Summit. They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification," said Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing.
"China highly commends the relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations," he said.
"It's very clear that there's no longer a so-called 'Republic of China president' in the world anymore. Anyone who wears that false title is acting against history and will only invite disgrace upon themselves. The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and to uphold it is a right thing to do. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China. The separatist attempts aimed at Taiwan secession are just futile and are doomed to fail," said the spokesman.
One-China principle is where arc of history bends, public opinion trends: spokesman
