China Labels Taiwan a 'First Red Line' After U.S. Unveils Deterrence Strategy

Taipei welcomed the U.S. plan, highlighting accelerated investments in its own defense.

Overview

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned against external interference and urged Washington to stop supporting what Beijing calls 'Taiwan independence' forces.
Guo said Beijing seeks stable ties with the United States while vowing to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests.
The response followed the U.S. National Security Strategy released Friday, which prioritizes deterring conflict with Beijing over Taiwan.
Reuters reported that Beijing last week deployed an unusually large number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters in its biggest maritime show of force to date.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te praised the U.S. strategy, and Defence Minister Wellington Koo said Taiwan must strengthen self-defence as the island targets defence outlays of 5% of GDP by 2030 and plans an additional $40 billion for 2026–2033.