CHINA has sharply condemned Japan’s plans to station missiles on an island in close proximity to Taiwan, vowing to “crush all foreign interference” in the self-governing island’s affairs, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced on Wednesday.
“We have a firm will, strong determination and a strong ability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Reuters reported Peng Qingen saying on Wednesday at a press briefing, responding to questions about the Japanese deployment.
China regards Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to assert control. Taiwan, however, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, insisting that its people alone have the right to determine the island’s political future.
“Japan’s deployment of offensive weapons in areas adjacent to China’s Taiwan region is extremely dangerous, deliberately creating regional tensions and provoking military confrontation,” Peng added, characterising Tokyo’s action as a direct threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The warning follows Japan’s announcement to enhance its missile capabilities on islands near Taiwan, a move seen by Beijing as a potential escalation in the long-standing geopolitical dispute over the island.
Analysts have warned that such deployments risk heightening military confrontation in the region, which already remains a flashpoint for US-China strategic rivalry.
China’s strong rhetoric underscores Beijing’s uncompromising stance on Taiwan, signalling its readiness to respond decisively to what it perceives as external interference in the sensitive and highly contested cross-strait relationship. - November 26, 2025
