Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian’s Regular Press Conference on December 31, 2025

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit China and hold the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue from January 3 to 5, 2026.

China News Service: China has recently taken countermeasures and punitive and deterrent measures on Taiwan-related issues. Following the PLA's military drills near the Taiwan Island, Russia, Cuba, Serbia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and other countries expressed their support. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: Several dozen countries have expressed support in various forms for China following its latest countermeasures and military drills concerning the Taiwan region. They reiterated their commitment to the one-China principle, opposition to external interference in China's internal affairs and support for China's effort to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. They noted in particular: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, and "Taiwan independence" in whatever form must be rejected. We highly commend those countries for their firm support.

We reaffirm once again that China will never waver in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China will never waver in its resolve to defend the nation's reunification and vital interests. China will never waver in its resolve to deter "Taiwan independence" separatist forces from colluding with external forces and destabilizing the Taiwan Strait. Anyone who crosses the line or makes provocations on the Taiwan question will be met with China's firm response. All attempts to hold back China's reunification will invariably fail. 

CCTV: It was reported that Japan, Australia, an EU agency and some European countries have openly expressed concerns over China's military drills near the Taiwan Island. What is your response?

Lin Jian: China firmly rejects the wrongful statements from these countries and institution and has lodged serious protests with them. They turn a blind eye to the separatists' massive military buildup attempts aimed at "Taiwan independence" and speak nothing of the external interference in China's internal affairs, and slam China for its just and necessary action to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is absolute hypocrisy and distortion.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair which brooks no external interference. The fundamental status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, and the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is "Taiwan independence" forces' separatist activities and external connivance and support for these activities. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations. It is also the political foundation for China's relations with all 183 countries having diplomatic ties with China. Japan, Australia and certain European countries made a clear commitment to one-China when establishing diplomatic ties with China. We once again call on these countries and institution to abide by their commitment, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop aiding and abetting separatism for "Taiwan independence."

Bloomberg: A group of Japanese business executives has postponed its trip to China, which was planned to take place in late January and the reasons they gave were challenges in securing meetings with Chinese officials. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this postponement of the major Japanese business delegation's trip to China in January?

Lin Jian: We noted the reports and also found that many visionary people in Japan are deeply concerned over the negative impact and grave consequences of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan. We urge those in the Japanese government to take concrete actions, face up to the root cause for the current situation in China-Japan relations, reflect on and correct the wrongdoing, retract the erroneous remarks of Takaichi, and create necessary conditions for the normal exchanges between China and Japan.

Shenzhen TV: To follow up on your announcement that Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit China soon, what does China expect to achieve through the visit?

Lin Jian: China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Over the years, the two countries have enjoyed close high-level exchanges with solid political mutual trust, deepened and expanded practical cooperation, and maintained a sound momentum of robust development of bilateral relations.

The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations. The upcoming visit will kick start commemorative events of the anniversary. China looks forward to working with Pakistan through this visit to further follow up on the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries, step up strategic communication and coordination, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas, carry out a series of commemorative events and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

TV Tokyo: Japanese Councillor Shi Ping wrote on social media today that he plans to visit Taiwan early next year and that since he is banned from entering China, by entering Taiwan he is proving Taiwan is an independent country with no connection to China. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: Lin Jian: The nasty words and deeds of a disgrace like him are not worthy of comments.

China-Arab TV: Amid ongoing tensions in Yemen recently, the country's Presidential Leadership Council yesterday declared a state of emergency nationwide. What's China's comment on the escalated situation in Yemen? 

Lin Jian: China has stated its position on the latest situation in southern Yemen a few days ago. China is following the situation there. We call for upholding Yemen's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and hope parties will put the Yemeni people's interests first, respond to the peace efforts of regional countries and the international community, resolve differences and disputes through political dialogue in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council, find a solution that accommodates all parties' legitimate concerns, and create conditions for restoring peace and tranquility in Yemen at an early date. China will continue to promote talks for peace in its own way and play a constructive role for the early realization of a political settlement of the Yemen issue.

CNR: Bangladesh will vote on February 12, 2026 to elect a new parliament, and the country is preparing for the election. How does China view the election in Bangladesh?

Lin Jian: The Bangladesh general election is Bangladesh's internal affair. China upholds the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. We are confident that the interim government and people of Bangladesh are capable of handling their own affairs well and pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions. Hope Bangladesh will hold a smooth general election and advance the country's political agenda in an orderly manner.

Bloomberg: Just yesterday you mentioned the visit from the South Korean President Lee. Can you elaborate any more details on that? In particular, will it be focused exclusively on bilateral issues, or can we also expect some discussions regarding regional issues, including North Korea but also relations with Japan?

Lin Jian: Information on the visit will be released in due course. Please check back for updates.

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During the New Year's Day holiday, there will be no regular press conference from Thursday, January 1 to Friday, January 2. The regular press conference will resume on Monday, January 5. During this period, questions can be submitted to the Spokesperson's Office via fax, email or WeChat.

This concludes the last regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry in 2025. Over the past year, our world has not been a tranquil place and the international landscape evolved toward an important watershed. With composure and confidence, China's diplomacy is cleaving through the waves and pressing ahead. Amid great changes of the world, we've been upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future, pooling strength for global governance, and spearheading win-win cooperation. We championed peace, promoted cooperation, adapted to change, and upheld justice. We opened up new horizons for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and made new contribution to the development and progress of humanity. 

This year, we held 231 conferences. I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to you all for witnessing with us the highlight moments of China's diplomacy. As we embark on 2026, we see rising dynamism in the East. I sincerely welcome your continued attention to, support for and active coverage of China's diplomacy, and wish you a happy new year, good health and success and your families every happiness and all the best. See you next year in Lanting.