Taiwan U.S.–China Military Exercises Military Diplomacy

The DPP Authorities Deliberately Manufacture Tension and Have Lost Popular Support

民进党当局蓄意制造紧张不得人心

PLA Daily (解放军报) 25 June 2026

Summary

At the June 25 MND press conference, Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang responded to questions about the overlap between U.S.-Japan Valiant Shield exercises and Taiwan military readiness drills by accusing the DPP authorities of deliberately manufacturing tension, declaring they have 'lost popular support,' and reaffirming PLA readiness to 'thwart any reckless act of Taiwan independence.' The framing—'lost popular support' (不得人心) rather than a direct military threat—documents the MND's current rhetorical posture: delegitimizing the DPP government politically while keeping the explicit threat language at a formulaic level, a pattern that fits the broader PRC approach of pairing coercive military readiness statements with political warfare messaging aimed at Taiwan's domestic audience.

Translation

On the afternoon of June 25, the Ministry of National Defense held a routine press conference, at which Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered questions from reporters.

Reporter: The United States and Japan are currently conducting the large-scale military exercise "Valiant Shield," while Taiwan's military is simultaneously holding combat-readiness drills. The timing of the two sides' exercises and training overlaps to a high degree, and the implication of targeting the Taiwan Strait is very strong. What is your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: The DPP authorities are deliberately manufacturing tension and escalating cross-strait confrontation and antagonism—this has lost popular support (不得人心). Seeking courage through military exercises cannot bring about genuine security. No matter who it is, those who treat confrontation as the norm and place the people's livelihood and welfare behind political self-interest will ultimately pay the corresponding price. The People's Liberation Army will at all times maintain a high state of readiness and will resolutely thwart any reckless act of "Taiwan independence."

Original Chinese

6月25日下午，国防部举行例行记者会，国防部新闻发言人张晓刚大校答记者问。记者：美日正在开展“英勇盾牌”大规模军演，台军同步举行备战操演，双方演训时间高度重合，针对台海的意味很强，请问对此有何评论？张晓刚：民进党当局蓄意制造紧张，升高两岸对立对抗，不得人心。靠军演壮胆换不来真正安全。不管是谁，把对抗当成常态，把民生福祉放在政治私利之后，最终都将付出相应代价。解放军始终保持高度戒备，坚决挫败任何“台独”妄动。