China’s Ministry of National Defense has strongly criticized Taiwan’s recent naval deployment to Central and South America, characterizing it as a transparent attempt to solicit international support for independence rather than a genuine goodwill mission. Defense spokesman Jiang Bin issued the statement during a regular press briefing on Wednesday, addressing reports of Taiwan’s 2026 goodwill cruising and training squadron visiting diplomatic partners in the region.
Jiang emphasized that the so-called ‘goodwill mission’ serves merely as a pretext for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities to advance their separatist agenda. He reiterated that the One-China principle represents both a prevailing international consensus and a fundamental norm in international relations, serving as the political foundation for China’s diplomatic relations with 183 countries worldwide.
‘The DPP authorities should understand that no form of Taiwan independence separatist activities or political manipulation can alter the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,’ Jiang stated. ‘Nor can such attempts change the international community’s widespread endorsement of the One-China principle.’
The defense spokesman called on nations in the relevant region to ‘follow the historical trend of the times’ and make decisions that serve their peoples’ fundamental and long-term interests. He concluded with a firm warning that all efforts to promote Taiwan independence are ‘doomed to be futile,’ reflecting Beijing’s consistent position on cross-strait relations.