Shangri-La Dialogue: China will ‘never be soft’ on foreign interference, PLA official warns

Speaking at Shangri-La Dialogue, PLA lieutenant general describes ‘grim’ Taiwan Strait situation and suggests there will be more drills

The comments come in response to speech by US defence chief Lloyd Austin at international security forum in Singapore

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A PLA fighter jet prepares to take off from an unknown location during military drills near Taiwan on May 23. A senior PLA official has warned there could be more exercises around the island. Photo: AFP / PLA Eastern Theatre Command

Published: 7:14pm, 1 Jun 2024Updated: 9:31pm, 1 Jun 2024

Beijing will not be “soft” on foreign interference, a senior PLA official told a security forum on Saturday, suggesting that there would be more Taiwan-related military exercises to come.

The comments from Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore came in response to US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s speech on Saturday morning, in which he said disputes should not be solved through “so-called punishment”.

Without naming Beijing, Austin’s remarks were an apparent reference to recent military drills by the People’s Liberation Army around Taiwan. Beijing said the exercises were meant to “punish” the island’s independence forces.

Speaking during a press conference, Jing said: “The PLA will never stop enhancing combat readiness, never stop our fight against Taiwan independence forces and never be soft on defeating external interference.”

Jing said that the United States had “betrayed its promise, hollowed out the one-China principle” and armed the island.

Describing the situation in the Taiwan Strait as “grim”, he added that “Taiwan independence means war”.

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