UPDATE - China won't allow Taiwan independence, as defense chief pledges ‘greater efforts’ for world peace

ADDS DETAILS ON MEETINGS, SPEECHES

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - China's defense chief warned on Thursday that Beijing would not allow Taiwanese independence and pledged "greater efforts" for global peace.

Speaking at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said historical and legal facts demonstrate that Taiwan is unquestionably part of China, according to state-run Global Times.

"We will never allow any Taiwan independence," he said, adding that the Chinese military is always ready to use force to defeat any external interference.

Dong vowed stronger efforts to safeguard global peace, saying Beijing is ready to work with all parties to improve security, build military trust, boost multilateral coordination, and promote effective cooperation to advance a shared future for humanity. He also urged the sides to jointly promote reforms to improve the global governance system.

The three-day defense dialogue forum kicked off on Wednesday in Beijing, with over 1,800 delegates from more than 100 countries and regions attending the event, including 40 defense ministers and military chiefs, as well as senior representatives from the United Nations, ASEAN, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called for new, greater contributions to ensuring long-term global peace and universal security on Wednesday at the forum's welcome banquet, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

He had said that the Chinese military is willing to continue working with all parties to deepen and expand military exchanges and cooperation across various fields and at multiple levels, address new threats and challenges by promoting greater unity and cooperation, and inject more stability into a turbulent world.

On Wednesday, Dong also met with his counterparts from Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Namibia, Rwanda, and Senegal, who are in China for the forum, during which he advocated for stronger global governance and deeper military ties, according to the state-run CGTN news channel.

The forum opens just two weeks after China held a massive military parade on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, referred to by China as the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Xiangshan Forum, which was established in 2006 and upgraded to a Track 1.5 dialogue in 2014, has evolved into a prominent international platform for defense and security.