The former US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter delivered a speech on Tuesday during his visit in Taiwan, saying Taiwan is part of America's Indo-Pacific Strategy, and Taiwan has a huge space. The spokesperson of China's National Defense Ministry responded to the remark on Thursday. He said that Taiwan is an important part of China, and China is firmly opposed to any official and military ties between the US and Taiwan.  

REN GUOQIANG, SPOKESPERSON MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE "We've noticed relevant reports. Taiwan is an important part of China. It concerns China's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. It's the most important and sensitive core issue for China. We urge the US side to keep its commitment to the one-China policy, and the principles of the three joint communiques between China and the US, and suspend and stop any more military ties with Taiwan so as not to harm the China-US relations and the cross-strait peace and stability."

The spokesperson also said Taiwan authority should acknowledge that there is no way out by relying on foreign countries.

REN GUOQIANG, SPOKESPERSON MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE "Taiwan should give up the confrontational mentality and do more things to improve the relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as peace and stability across the strait."