'U.S. weapons cannot save them': China's warning to Taiwan

China condemned a new U.S. tank shipment to Taiwan, warning Washington it is "playing with fire." Beijing told Taipei's leaders that "U.S. weapons cannot save them," calling the move a dangerous provocation that crosses a fundamental "red line."

China's Ministry of National Defense issued a stern warning to the United States on Monday, demanding an immediate end to military collusion with Taiwan and delivering a blunt message to the island's authorities that American arms will not guarantee their security.

The strongly worded statement came after a new shipment of U.S. M1A2 tanks arrived in Taiwan. Beijing condemned the delivery as a dangerous escalation and a violation of its sovereignty.

Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin accused the U.S. and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces of actively working to "violate China's core interests, change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits and escalate regional tensions."

"Who is making provocations despite strong opposition from the Chinese side? Who is undermining cross-Straits stability and repeatedly stirring up trouble? We believe we all know the answer," Jiang stated, expressing China's "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition."

Reiterating Beijing's unyielding stance, the spokesperson described the Taiwan question as "the very core of China's core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations."

The warning carried a direct threat to Washington, with Jiang stating the U.S. "will get burned for playing with fire and gain more harm than good" if it continues its military support for Taiwan.

The most pointed message, however, was directed at Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). "We warn the DPP authorities that U.S. weapons cannot save them, and soliciting external support for 'Taiwan independence' is doomed to fail," Jiang declared.

The spokesperson concluded by affirming that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will continue to intensify its military training and combat readiness. He asserted that China is prepared to "take resolute measures to thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and external interference," underscoring the nation's commitment to enhancing its ability to "fight and win."

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