Retired PLA general’s incendiary views on national unity, safety ‘represent him’

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An article published on a news website belonging to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has downplayed hawkish comments from a retired PLA general about so-called “independence movements” in Hong Kong and Taiwan and US military exchange with Taiwan island.

Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of the Nanjing military area command and also member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, has said that if Hong Kong and Taiwan “independence forces” come together they would still be defeated.

He made the comments in reply to media questions on the opening day of the fifth session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee on Friday.

Wang Hongguang, member of CPPCC National committee and former deputy commander of the Nanjing military area command /CFP Photo

Surrounded with reporters, Wang also warned that if any aggressive US military equipment, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, were deployed on the soil of China’s Taiwan island, it would be a right time for China’s armed forces to “liberate” the island.

He was answering a question about media reports speculating that the US might have plans to move the THAAD to Taiwan island.

Beijing strictly opposes military ties between Taiwan and any other country that has official and diplomatic ties with the Chinese mainland, and has repeatedly condemned military exchange between Washington and Taiwan, including US arms sales to the island.

China Military Online, a news website sponsored by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, published a commentary on Saturday brushing off the need to read too much into Wang’s statements.

The commentary said that the military official has all the right to speak out his own opinions, and as a member of the CPPPCC National Committee should express his thoughts on a variety of issues as long as he does not violate the country’s laws and PLA disciplines.

“Chinese soldiers are not interested in war, but they are not afraid of war,” the article read.

However, the commentary stressed that media should understand that Wang is not a spokesperson for the PLA, noting that his remarks represent him not the military institution.

While calling on the media not to obsess about Wang’s statements, the article did add that “his comments can be regarded as a warning.”

The article noted that the Chinese mainland authorities have reiterated that the 1992 Consensus is the cornerstone of the cross-Strait relations and according to which Taiwan is part of China. Calls for so-called independence are absurd as Beijing stands firm about supporting the one-China policy.

The Chinese mainland side has called on Taiwan's leader Tsai Ing-wen to clarify her stance on cross-Strait ties and uphold the 1992 Consensus, the core of which specifies that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island belong to "one China."

‍But since her inauguration on May 20, 2016, she has chosen to be vague in her opinions over the matter, despite cross-Strait relations being of utmost concern to people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing has repeatedly expressed concern over Tsai’s policy towards the mainland, as Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has traditionally held the concept of so-called “Taiwan independence.”

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