Fu Fengshan, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN, released an article on South China Morning Post entitled "Why the US will fail to use Taiwan to counter China"  on 13 January 2026. The full text is as follows: 

Last month, the United States announced its decision to sell advanced weapons amounting to US$11.1 billion to China’s Taiwan region. The authorisation of the largest ever arms package to Taiwan since China and the US established diplomatic relations has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, severely undermined Chinese sovereignty and security interests, gravely interfered in China’s internal affairs and sent the wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. 

China has made solemn representations and lodged strong protests to the US side. It has also taken punitive and deterrent countermeasures to firmly uphold the one-China principle and safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This is both history and reality. The restoration of Taiwan to China was an integral part of the victorious outcomes of the second world war and the post-war international order. The 1943 Cairo Declaration, the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender all support China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. 

Later, in 1971, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 settled the question of China’s representation once and for all, recognising the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of the whole of China, including Taiwan. The one-China principle is the political foundation and prerequisite for China to establish and advance diplomatic relations with countries in the world. 

It is the consensus of the international community and a basic norm governing international relations. Based on this principle, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China. 

The Taiwan question is purely a matter of China’s internal affairs. Arms sales by any external force to Taiwan, in any way, constitute a gross infringement on China’s sovereignty. By selling arms to Taiwan, the US is aiming to hinder the process of China’s peaceful reunification. 

It is a serious and unacceptable provocation. In its futile attempt to use Taiwan to contain the development of China, the US – with total disrespect to international law and justice and in complete disregard of regional peace and stability – has been reckless, inciting the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to advance their independence agenda through military build-up. 

It appears as if the US has even gathered a handful of its allies to talk irresponsibly against China’s just and necessary actions to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is absolute hypocrisy and a typical example of confusing black and white. 

The world has suffered from the US for too long. Be it the continuous increases in arms sales to Taiwan, inaction over the prolonged humanitarian tragedy in Gaza or the blatant assault on Venezuela, we have seen repeated proof of Washington’s unscrupulous selfishness and endless bullying. Facing a US that disregards international rules, tramples on the international rule of law and arbitrarily undermines the international order, we must not be indifferent. 

Now, more countries stand with China by not only reiterating their commitment to the one-China principle and recognising Taiwan as an inalienable part of China’s territory, but also articulating support for the cause of China’s reunification and opposition to separatist activities for “Taiwan independence”. 

As China’s close neighbors, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are keenly aware of the hardships China has endured in history and cognisant of the historical context for the emergence of the Taiwan question. After the recent US escalation of arms sales to Taiwan, some ASEAN members have expressed support for China and reiterated their commitment to the one-China policy. 

Although the situation in the Taiwan Strait faces complex challenges, the historical trend of China’s complete national reunification is unstoppable. All attempts by the US to hold back China’s reunification are doomed to fail. Only by resolutely forestalling separatist activities in accordance with the law can we forge a true foundation for peaceful reunification. Only when China is completely reunified can there be enduring peace across the Taiwan Strait. 

China looks forward to working with Southeast Asia towards the goal of building a closer China-Asean community with a shared future, steadfastly safeguarding common interests, jointly upholding fairness and justice, defending the post-war international order and fostering a brighter future of peace and prosperity.