Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Yin Chengwu Gives Written Interview to Liberian Mainstream Newspaper on Taiwan Question

On January 9, 2026, Ambassador Yin Chengwu gave a written interview to Liberia mainstream Newspaper Daily OBSERVER on Taiwan Question. The full text is as follows:

Daily OBSERVER: The United States government recently approved over 11.1 billion dollars in arms sales to Taiwan, marking the largest such sale since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Would you like to respond on this statement?

H.E. Yin Chengwu:Recently, the United States announced its decision to sell large-scale arms sales to China's Taiwan region. This move grossly violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint Communiqués, interferes in China's internal affairs, infringes on China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. The Chinese side has lodged stern representations and strong protest with the U.S. side at the first opportunity and decided to take countermeasures in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions against 20 U.S. military-related companies and 10 senior executives who have engaged in arming Taiwan in recent years. China firmly opposes any form of military engagement between the U.S. and China's Taiwan region. With regard to the involvement of U.S. enterprises and individuals in arming Taiwan and their flagrant interference in China's internal affairs, China has taken countermeasures in accordance with laws and regulations, including freezing assets within China, prohibiting transactions and cooperation, and imposing entry restrictions.

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－U.S. relations. Nothing will deter China from defending national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China urges the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, act on the commitment of the U.S. leader, stop the dangerous moves of arming Taiwan, stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Daily OBSERVER: After the U.S. approved a large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, some media reported that this move was to "assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities, commensurate with the threat it faces." What is your comment?

H.E. Yin Chengwu:The Taiwan question is China's internal affair. The essence of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is a gross interference in China's internal affairs, providing military support for "Taiwan independence" separatists activities and impeding the process of China's peaceful reunification.

The United States side made a clear commitment in the August 17 communiqué of 1982, "its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in the recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading over a period of time, to a final resolution". But over 40 years later, the U.S. has not only failed to reduce arms sales but has instead sold more and more, increasingly advanced weapons. It seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security, and gravely encourages the arrogance of "Taiwan independence" forces. Under the pretext of maintain the "status quo of the Taiwan Strait", the United States' sales to Taiwan are adding fuel to the fire in the Taiwan strait situation.

The US authorities have stated that they remain committed to the one-China policy and that they do not support "Taiwan independence". But their actions contradict their words. They are clouding the one-China principle in uncertainty and compromising its integrity. They are contriving "official" exchanges with Taiwan, increasing arms sales, and colluding in military provocation. To help Taiwan expand its "international space", they are inducing other countries to interfere in Taiwan affairs, and concocting Taiwan-related bills that infringe upon the sovereignty of China. They are creating confusion around what is black and white, right and wrong. On the one hand, they incite separatist forces to create tension and turmoil in cross-Straits relations. On the other hand, they accuse the mainland of coercion, pressurizing Taiwan, and unilaterally changing the status quo, in order to embolden these forces and create obstacles to China's peaceful reunification.

The real threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and external interference. The Lai Ching-te authorities conducts "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, acts without principle to fawn over foreign powers and without bottom line to betray Taiwan, they recklessly sacrifice Taiwan's economic development and people's welfare. Rushing headlong down the path of colluding with external forces to pursue 'independence' provocations and militarism, they severely undermine cross-Straits relations, seriously threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and gravely harm the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation as well as the immediate well-being of compatriots in Taiwan. As for any 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities, China will never tolerate or condone them and will resolutely strike back.

Daily OBSERVER:Recently, the People's Liberation Army of China is conducting military drills in areas near the Taiwan Island. Would this not further escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait?

H.E. Yin Chengwu:The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army started drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" around the Taiwan Island on December 29th. By dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops, the army conducted drills around the Taiwan Island. The drills are a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek "Taiwan independence" through military buildup, and a necessary move to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The drills have now concluded successfully.

The relevant military actions are targeted at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and interference by external forces, aimed at curbing "Taiwan independence" separatist elements from colluding with external forces to disrupt the Taiwan Strait. The actions fundamentally safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as protect the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the immediate interests of our compatriots in Taiwan. To advance the separatist agenda, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are turning Taiwan into a powder keg. Their massive and desperate arms purchase further reveal their true nature as provocateurs, saboteurs of peace and war-mongers. Anyone who tries to arm Taiwan to contain China will only embolden the separatists and push the Taiwan Strait closer to the peril of armed conflict.

Let me stress that no country or force shall ever underestimate the resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Daily OBSERVER: Do Liberia and the international community support the relevant countermeasures announced by China and the conduct of related military actions?

H.E. Yin Chengwu:The international society has 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. Recently, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia reaffirmed Liberia's commitment to the one-China Principle. China highly commends those countries for their firm support.

Taiwan's recovery to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the post-war international order. The one-China principle is a well-recognized norm in international relations, a prevailing consensus in the international community and the political foundation for China to establish and grow its diplomatic relations with 183 countries, including Liberia. Among countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, Liberia is the first one to domesticate the one-China principle in the form of legislation. Since the election of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his assumption of office, the Liberian side has repeatedly reaffirmed its adherence to the one-China principle.

There is only one China in the world. Taiwan has never been a country in the past, is not one now, and will never become one in the future. No matter how the situation in Taiwan changes, and no matter how external forces may stir up trouble, the historical trend of China's eventual and inevitable reunification is unstoppable. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Daily OBSERVER:Not long ago, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made some remarks on Taiwan. What impact does this have on the situation in the Taiwan Strait?

H.E. Yin Chengwu:Recently, when responding at the Diet, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi blatantly made provocative remarks on Taiwan. Those remarks seriously violate the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, erode the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and challenge the post-WWII international order. This marks the first time since Japan's defeat in 1945 that a Japanese leader has advocated in an official setting the notion that "a contingency for Taiwan is a contingency for Japan" and linked it to the exercise of the right of collective self-defense; the first time Japan has expressed ambitions to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question; and the first time Japan has issued a threat of force against China, openly challenging China's core interests. These remarks are gravely erroneous and extremely dangerous, with a profoundly malicious nature and impact. China has made clear its firm opposition. These remarks have clearly had a damaging impact on the situation across the Taiwan Strait, and have been questioned and criticized by visionary people inside Japan, and met with condemnation from the international community.

Japan has made solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan question. During the discussions on resuming China-Japan diplomatic ties in 1970s, China explicitly put forth three principles: the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole and legal government representing the Chinese people; the Taiwan Province is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China; and the so-called "Taiwan-Japan Treaty" is illegal and invalid and must be abrogated.

In 1972, the two countries signed the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and officially established diplomatic relations. Three places in the Joint Statement are related to the Taiwan question. First, in the opening paragraphs, it is written that the Japanese side "reaffirms its position that it intends to realize the normalization of relations between the two countries from the stand of fully understanding 'the three principles for resuming diplomatic relations' put forward by the Government of the People's Republic of China." Then Article 2 says that "the Government of Japan recognizes that Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China." And Article 3 says that "the Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation."

In 1978, the two countries signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, which explicitly stated that the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement "constitutes the basis for relations of peace and friendship between the two countries and that the principles set out in that statement should be strictly observed." The treaty affirmed the principles and contents of the joint statement in legal terms and set out the legal parameters for China-Japan relations.

In 1998, the two sides released the China-Japan Joint Declaration on Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development, in which Japan undertook to "continue to maintain its stand on the Taiwan question which was set forth in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement" and "reiterated its understanding that there is one China." It's stated in the document that Japan will continue to only maintain its exchanges of private and regional nature with Taiwan, which ruled out the legal possibility of Japan developing official relations with Taiwan.

In 2008, the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit stipulated clearly in Article 5 that "The Japanese side reiterated that it will continue to abide by its position on the Taiwan question stated in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement."

The above is what is laid out in the four political documents between China and Japan regarding the Taiwan question. It constitutes the solemn commitment made by the Japanese government and has a legal effect under international law. There is no room whatsoever for ambiguity or misinterpretation. Whichever political party or person is in power in Japan, they must always abide by the commitment of the Japanese government on the Taiwan question.

Taiwan belongs to China. How to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people to decide and brooks no interference by any external force. China urges Japan to approach history and relations with China in a responsible way, stop crossing the line and playing with fire, retract the wrongful remarks and seriously act to honor Japan's commitment to China.

Last year, President Boakai attended the National Day reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy and stated that the hard-won victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is of great significance. Liberia firmly adheres to the one-China principle. China highly appreciates it.

At the beginning of the new year, Liberia formally began its tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026-2027 term. I would like to once again congratulate Liberia on this historic diplomatic achievement. China looks forward to working with Liberia, under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of China and Liberia, to support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns, deepen the China-Liberia strategic partnership, and deliver more outcomes to the two peoples.