Beijing, China - April 17, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman, Ministry of National Defense:
"Taiwan is a part of China. There is no such a thing as 'defense budget' for Taiwan region. Lai Ching-te, driven by the selfish separatist agenda, squandered hard-earned money of people in Taiwan to fawn on the United States. This is nothing but a treacherous act of selling out Taiwan, bringing disaster to the island, and pushing Taiwan towards the danger of military conflict. Certain forces in the United States are ripping Taiwan off, and care nothing about the safety of Taiwan. All they truly care about is making more money and even profiting from the war. We warn the DPP authorities that soliciting U.S. support for secession will not bring security, and resisting reunification through military buildup are doomed to fail. We urge the United States to immediately cease all forms of military contacts with the Taiwan region, stop sending wrong messages to Taiwan separatist forces, and stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

A Chinese military spokesman on Friday strongly condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for his recent actions, accusing him of betraying the interests of Taiwan people by courting the United States in pursuit of secession.

At a press conference in Beijing, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, responded to a media query regarding recent visits by U.S. congressional lawmakers to the Taiwan region and Lai's provocative remarks.

"Taiwan is a part of China. There is no such a thing as 'defense budget' for Taiwan region. Lai Ching-te, driven by the selfish separatist agenda, squandered hard-earned money of people in Taiwan to fawn on the United States. This is nothing but a treacherous act of selling out Taiwan, bringing disaster to the island, and pushing Taiwan towards the danger of military conflict. Certain forces in the United States are ripping Taiwan off, and care nothing about the safety of Taiwan. All they truly care about is making more money and even profiting from the war," Zhang said.

"We warn the DPP authorities that soliciting U.S. support for secession will not bring security, and resisting reunification through military buildup are doomed to fail. We urge the United States to immediately cease all forms of military contacts with the Taiwan region, stop sending wrong messages to Taiwan separatist forces, and stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he added.