China’s newly released white paper on national security remains consistent with its previous rhetoric, showing no signs of policy softening or strategic recalibration, according to National Security Bureau Deputy Director-General Huang Ming-chao (黃明昭). He stressed that the document primarily serves to reaffirm Beijing’s long-standing positions. However, he also noted that China is actively leveraging ongoing trade tensions with the United States as a strategic opportunity to build a united front that serves its own interests.
Released Monday by the State Council Information Office, the white paper outlines China’s national security strategy in what it describes as the “new era.” The section on Taiwan reiterates Beijing’s One-China principle and the “1992 Consensus,” reaffirms their opposition to Taiwan independence, and refuses to renounce the use of force while calling for a stronger foundation for peaceful unification.
Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about “unification and peace” during a recent White House press conference, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠) urged caution. He noted that Trump’s comments were clearly focused on trade and tariff issues, with no reference to geopolitics or cross-Strait relations. Shen emphasized that the mention of “unification” should not be misread as a signal of future U.S. policy shifts regarding Taiwan.
Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) recently visited Southeast Asia, with stops in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, where he underscored deepening economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN nations. Officials have also observed that more Chinese products are now labeled in Spanish—a sign of Beijing’s growing interest in Spanish-speaking markets and emerging economies in Latin America. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council is coordinating with relevant ministries to assess the potential implications for Taiwan’s foreign relations and trade.