The Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests, the most consequential issue and the most pronounced risk in China-U.S. relations, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 

It is reported that the committees on armed services in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have separately passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act to further advance military cooperation with the Taiwan region. 

In response to such reports at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stressed that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been and will never be divided. 

Zhang said that for some time, external forces have tried all means to "contain China with Taiwan" and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been harboring the illusion of "seeking independence with American support." "It is they who are sabotaging the status quo and aggravating tension across the Taiwan Straits," added the spokesperson. 

Resolving the Taiwan question is the Chinese people's affair, which allows no interference from external forces, he said. 

"The U.S. side should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and fulfill its commitment to not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' rather than saying one thing and doing another," he said. 

The spokesperson said that the PLA has the ability and confidence to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and smash "Taiwan independence" secession and external interference attempts. 

(Cover: View of Taipei, China's Taiwan region. /CFP)