China Condemns Taiwan DPP Over Military Drills and Maritime Talks

The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office and the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China issued a series of condemnations against Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) between June 24 and June 25, 2026. Chinese officials labeled the DPP as troublemakers, asserting that their pursuit of Taiwan independence and reliance on external military forces are the primary drivers of tension across the Taiwan Strait.

Spokesperson Zhang Han criticized the DPP for supporting unilateral maritime delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines regarding exclusive economic zones east of Taiwan. He stated these talks violate international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Additionally, Zhang Han condemned the DPP for threatening to penalize Taiwanese agricultural and fishery groups that signed deals with the mainland, calling the moves arbitrary and overbearing.

On June 25, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accused the DPP of deliberately escalating tensions by conducting combat readiness exercises concurrently with the U.S.-Japan Valiant Shield 2026 drills in the Indo-Pacific. He warned that military posturing cannot substitute for genuine security and stated that the People's Liberation Army remains on high alert to prevent any attempts at secession.