appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Cao Jiaxuan

Beijing on Friday warned Washington against making moves involving Hong Kong or Taiwan ahead of the expected visit by US President Donald Trump later this month.
It condemned US calls for the release of jailed former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and reiterated opposition to American arms sales to Taiwan.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Lai “should be severely punished according to the law”, and accused external forces of interfering in “Hong Kong’s judicial process and China’s internal affairs”.
“Jimmy Lai is a major planner and participant in a series of serious anti-China and destabilising incidents in Hong Kong,” Guo said.
“His actions seriously challenged the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, endangered national security and undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, as well as the well-being of its residents.”


The remarks came in response to a question about Washington’s hopes for Lai to be released on humanitarian grounds and speculation that it might consider easing some sanctions related to Hong Kong as part of a potential arrangement.
Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish and distribute seditious material.
Lai, who has been in detention since late 2020, is also a British citizen. Both the United States and Britain have repeatedly called for his release.
Trump himself has publicly urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to free the 78-year-old, saying he was concerned about Lai’s health.
Guo also criticised Washington for imposing sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials, calling the measures illegal, and reiterating Beijing’s consistent opposition to them.
At the same briefing, Guo warned Washington against selling arms to Taiwan, maintaining Beijing’s long-standing opposition to such moves.
“China firmly opposes US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear,” he said.
Guo also urged Washington to abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 communique, which addressed US arms sales to Taiwan.
“The United States should stop selling weapons to Taiwan and take concrete actions to safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
His comments followed a Reuters report on Friday that Trump could sign off on a major arms package for the self-governed island, including advanced interceptor missiles, after concluding his China trip.
The proposed package, reportedly worth about US$14 billion, would be the largest ever arms sale to Taiwan.
The White House earlier said Trump would visit China from March 31 to April 2, marking the first trip to the country by a sitting US president since 2017.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. While most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, Washington opposes any attempt to seize the island by force and remains committed under its laws to providing Taiwan with defensive weapons.


The Trump administration in December last year approved an arms sale to Taiwan worth more than US$11 billion, setting a record.
Beijing condemned the deal at the time, saying it seriously violated China’s sovereignty and sent a dangerous signal to pro-independence forces.
Shortly afterwards, the People’s Liberation Army carried out two days of military exercises near Taiwan.


Xi-Trump banquet: from flasks to US tech titans in attendance, here’s everything you missed

Trump hails WWII ‘ally’ China as Xi tells of bonds forged in ‘blood and fire’

Xi presses Trump to take the next step on Taiwan: oppose independence

China and the US are racing ahead on AI. Can they manage risks together?

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Beijing warns US over Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong and Taiwan arms sales ahead of Trump visit

The White House says US President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2. Photo: TNS

US Navy patrols Taiwan Strait before Xi-Trump summit, triggering PLA manoeuvres

A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Wednesday, the US Seventh Fleet said on Thursday. Photo: Handout

Taiwan scrambles to sign US arms deals before deadline amid defence budget gridlock

A missile is fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars)  during a military drill in Pingtung, Taiwan, on May 12, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE 

Jimmy Lai will not appeal 20-year sentence after national security trial: source

Jimmy Lai was last month sentenced to 20 years in prison over his conviction on two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles. Photo: AFP

Stability comes first: Chinese defence chief signals Beijing’s strategic caution

Dong Jun has served as China’s defence minister since December 2023. Photo: Reuters

Military delegates arrive for a plenary session of the National People’s Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AP

Taiwan tensions No 1 in Beijing’s top 10 geopolitical risks of 2026: think tank

A report has identified escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait as the most pressing external security concern for Beijing. Photo: AP

News

China

Diplomacy

Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’


Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’.


Beijing warns US over Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong and Taiwan arms sales ahead of Trump visit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’

Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’