Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, and State Council Taiwan Affairs Office All Take Action
China is escalating its criticism of the United States' 2024 fiscal year defense budget and defense policy outlined in the "National Defense Authorization Act." Four organizations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the National People's Congress (NPC) which functions similarly to a parliament, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council responsible for Taiwan issues, have consecutively mentioned the U.S. in statements or press briefings.
Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said at a briefing on the 28th, "The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act unjustifiably exaggerates the so-called 'military threat from China' and harshly interferes in China's internal affairs," adding, "The Chinese military expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition."
He continued, "The United States should abandon its outdated security views and Cold War zero-sum mentality, and objectively and rationally view the development of China and its military power."
He also stated, "The U.S. meddling in the Taiwan issue is a very dangerous gamble," and "The United States must stop provocative acts aimed at suppressing China through Taiwan and maintain regional peace and stability through concrete actions."
Tian Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, also criticized in a briefing the previous day, saying, "The United States blatantly inserted Taiwan-related content into the National Defense Authorization Act, recklessly talking about the Taiwan issue and interfering in China's internal affairs," adding, "This sends a seriously wrong signal to Taiwan independence forces and severely damages peace in the Taiwan Strait."
The NPC Foreign Affairs Committee also condemned, "This bill meddles in the Taiwan issue, stokes strategic competition with China, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty, security, and development interests," and claimed in a spokesperson's statement the previous day, "This violates the agreements made at the China-U.S. summit held in San Francisco."
On the 26th, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized at a regular briefing, "China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the U.S. passing and signing the National Defense Authorization Act," and "China has already lodged stern representations with the United States."
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act on the 22nd (local time), defining the defense budget at $886 billion (approximately 1,152 trillion won), about a 3% increase from the previous year. The law includes maintaining the current size of U.S. Forces Korea and emphasizes strengthening military alliances and cooperative relationships in the Indo-Pacific region to expand comparative advantages in strategic competition with China. It is also reported to include provisions emphasizing the importance of defense information sharing with Taiwan.
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