A Chinese military spokesman on Saturday slammed Taiwan separatists as the root cause of undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing while responding to a media query that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently organized joint combat readiness patrols involving air and naval forces around Taiwan, with a flotilla of major warships entering waters southwest of the Penghu Islands.
Analysts said the rise in Chinese aircraft crossing the so-called "median line" of the strait may be linked to recent overseas visits by senior Taiwan officials.
"Taiwan is part of China, and there is no so-called 'median line' in the Taiwan Strait. The PLA's military operations in the relevant areas are 'completely legitimate and reasonable'. Taiwan separatists are the root cause that undermines peace across the Taiwan Strait, and we will never tolerate or show any leniency toward such activities. The PLA will continue to take concrete actions to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to firmly safeguard peace and stability in the strait," said Jiang.
Defense spokesman slams Taiwan separatists for undermining peace across Taiwan Strait
Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.
"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.
He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.
"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.
"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.
Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival
