China’s defense minister Dong Jun took center stage at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on September 18, 2025, delivering a message that reverberated far beyond the conference hall’s walls. Addressing an audience filled with international military officials, Dong renewed Beijing’s long-standing threats to take control of Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy of 23 million people. His remarks, forceful and unequivocal, underscored China’s view that the “restoration” of Taiwan is not only inevitable but also, in his words, “an integral part of the post-war international order,” according to The Associated Press.
The Xiangshan Forum, an annual event where China seeks to project regional leadership and foster military cooperation, provided Dong with a high-profile platform. This year’s gathering came on the heels of a massive military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. China’s army, the world’s largest, showcased advanced weaponry during the parade—including Chinese-made hypersonic missiles and tanks—sending a clear signal of the country’s military capabilities and ambitions.
Dong’s speech did not mince words. He declared, “China would never allow any separatist attempts for Taiwan independence to succeed and is ready to thwart any external military interference.” Though he never mentioned the United States by name, the intended audience for his veiled warnings was unmistakable. Dong criticized “behaviors such as external military interference, seeking spheres of influence and coercing others into taking sides,” warning that such actions “plunge the international community into chaos and conflict.” These comments, reported by The Associated Press and echoed by OneIndia, were widely interpreted as a direct caution to Washington, which has long supported Taiwan’s de facto autonomy and sells arms to the island’s government.
China’s stance on Taiwan is nothing new, but the rhetoric has grown sharper in recent years. Since 1949, when the Chinese civil war ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland and the Nationalists retreating to Taiwan, the island has been governed separately. Beijing, however, has never abandoned its claim, considering Taiwan a breakaway province. Over the past year, China has ramped up military pressure, sending warships and aircraft near the island almost daily. Most recently, the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian passed near Taiwan, adding to the sense of unease in the region.
Taiwan’s government, led by President Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party, has consistently rejected Beijing’s assertions. They maintain, as reported by The Associated Press, that Taiwan is a sovereign country and that its future should be decided by its own people, not dictated from across the strait. This fundamental disagreement sits at the heart of the tension, with each side seeing the issue as existential.
Dong’s address also placed China’s ambitions in a broader global context. He stressed the importance of upholding the “U.N.-centered international system” as the framework for global peace and stability. “We must defend the post-war order,” Dong 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.” It’s a message that seeks to position China as a responsible stakeholder in global affairs, even as it asserts its interests with increasing vigor.
Yet, the subtext of Dong’s remarks was clear: China is prepared to use force if necessary to achieve its aims regarding Taiwan. The Associated Press noted that China has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Dong’s assertion that the Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties “to serve as a force for global peace, stability and progress” was tempered by his repeated insistence that separatist moves would be crushed and that external interference would not be tolerated.
This blend of reassurance and threat is a hallmark of Beijing’s approach to Taiwan. On one hand, Chinese officials invoke the language of international law and post-war order, seeking to frame their claims as consistent with the global status quo. On the other, they make it plain that military options remain on the table. Dong’s words, “the restoration of Taiwan is inevitable and part of the postwar international order,” as reported by OneIndia, leave little doubt about Beijing’s intentions.
The timing of these statements is significant. The security forum took place just weeks after the high-profile military parade in Beijing, where China’s latest hardware was on display. The message to both domestic and international audiences was unmistakable: China is strong, united, and ready to assert its interests. The near-daily military maneuvers around Taiwan, including the passage of the Fujian aircraft carrier, serve as a constant reminder of this resolve.
For Taiwan, the pressure is relentless. President Lai Ching-te and his administration have responded by doubling down on their commitment to sovereignty and democracy. They argue that the island’s future should be determined by its people, not by threats from Beijing. This stance has drawn support from like-minded countries, particularly the United States, which has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan and provided it with defensive weaponry.
However, the risks of escalation are ever-present. Dong’s warning that China is prepared to counter “any external military interference” is widely seen as a direct message to Washington. The United States, while not formally recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state, has made clear its commitment to helping Taiwan defend itself. This delicate balance—supporting Taiwan without provoking open conflict with China—has become increasingly difficult to maintain as Beijing’s rhetoric and military activities intensify.
Still, Dong sought to cast China as a force for stability, emphasizing that Beijing does not seek to overturn the global order but rather to reinforce it. “The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to serve as a force for global peace, stability and progress,” he said. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a more complicated story, with military posturing and diplomatic maneuvering creating a tense and unpredictable environment in the Taiwan Strait.
As the world watches, the stakes remain high. The future of Taiwan is not just a regional issue but a flashpoint with global implications. The Xiangshan Forum and Dong Jun’s remarks have once again brought these tensions to the forefront, reminding all parties that the question of Taiwan’s status is far from settled—and that the risks of miscalculation or confrontation are as real as ever.
In the end, the words spoken in Beijing may have been intended to reassure, but they have also served as a stark reminder of the unresolved conflict at the heart of the region. For now, Taiwan’s fate hangs in the balance, with the world’s attention fixed on every move and every word exchanged across the strait.