China's defense minister renews threats to Taiwan at Beijing security forum

BEIJING — China's defense minister renewed vows to reclaim self-ruled Taiwan as he opened the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Thursday, a security gathering aimed at projecting regional leadership and promoting military cooperation. Taiwan, a democracy of about 23 million people, has been governed separately from China since 1949, and Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

Defense Minister Dong Jun told an audience of international military officials that Beijing would "never allow any separatist attempts for Taiwan independence to succeed" and that it is prepared to thwart "any external military interference." He also argued that "the Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to serve as a force for global peace, stability and progress." He criticized behaviors such as external military interference, seeking spheres of influence and coercing others into taking sides, saying they threaten to plunge the international community into chaos and conflict.

The security forum, held in the capital, is part of Beijing's wider effort to project regional leadership and bolster military cooperation with partners abroad. Dong's remarks come as China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan, including regular incursions by warships and aircraft near the island, which Taipei says are designed to intimidate its people and undermine their sovereignty.

Dong also stressed the importance of upholding the United Nations-centered international system as a framework for global peace and stability. "We must defend the post-war order," he said. "We do not intend to overturn the existing order or to create a new one. Rather the goal is to reinforce the cornerstone and pillars of the system."

The forum follows a massive military parade earlier this month commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, during which Beijing showcased its latest weapons, including hypersonic missiles and advanced tanks. Analysts say the display was intended to signal China’s growing strategic capabilities and to reinforce messaging about its security priorities to regional and global audiences.

Taiwan's government and ruling party have rejected Beijing's insistence that Taiwan is part of China and maintain that the island's future should be decided by its people. The Xiangshan Forum, in turn, provides a stage for China to articulate its security vision and to deepen ties with military officials from other countries, even as it faces broader regional tensions and questions about how such power projections will shape the Asia-Pacific balance in the coming years.