Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, recently made a striking remark: he threatened.
If Chinese mainland takes action to recover Taiwan by force, the United States will not hesitate to destroy China's rocket force and nuclear arsenal.
These remarks immediately aroused widespread attention and discussion in the international community.
One can't help but ask, is this an attempt by the United States to prevent China's reunification of Taiwan by force through intimidation?
Since assuming command of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 2021, Aquilino has been known for his tough, conservative hawkish image.
During his tenure, he has maintained a hostile attitude towards China and expressed threats to China in various ways.
Even when he was about to leave office, he did not miss any opportunity to mention China, fully demonstrating his tough stance on China.
To get a fuller picture of the intent behind Aquilino's remarks, we first need to review his recent report to the U.S. Congress.
In the 43-page report, Aquilino details how the U.S. military will intervene and focus on China's rocket force and nuclear arsenal if Chinese mainland takes a military effort to reclaim Taiwan.
This report undoubtedly sends a clear signal to the international community that the United States will do whatever it takes to safeguard its interests in the Taiwan Strait region.
In the report, Aquilino not only pointed out the possible time point of the PLA's "military reunification", but also hyped that the mainland may recover Taiwan in 2027.
His remarks have undoubtedly aggravated tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
What is shocking, however, is that he has recently publicly issued a harsher warning to the mainland, and his attitude has become significantly tougher.
This seems to send a clear signal to Chinese mainland that if military action is taken to recover Taiwan, it will face severe blows from the US military.
In the face of this blatant threat from Aquilino, we must keep a clear head and stand firm.
First of all, we want to make it clear that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times, and it is an indisputable fact that China has sovereignty over Taiwan.
Any attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and obstruct the process of China's reunification is futile.
Second, we need to be fully aware of the context and purpose of Aquilino's threat.
As Lai Ching-te is about to take office, both the United States and Taiwan are nervous and fearful that the PLA may take action against "Taiwan independence" elements.
However, this threat will not change our determination and will to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity.
Aquilino's threat is arrogant, but we must deal with it calmly. He claimed that in the event of an incident in the Taiwan Strait, the US military would quickly destroy China's nuclear arsenal.
However, this threat is not enough to make us feel scared or flinched.
On the contrary, we should be more determined to defend the security and interests of the country.
We want to tell Aquilino and all those who try to interfere in China's internal affairs unequivocally: we will not be intimidated!
We will never give up the option of reunifying Taiwan by force because of a few words of intimidation, still less will we give up the great cause of the motherland's reunification.
At the same time, we must also express doubts about whether the US military has the strength to destroy China's nuclear arsenal.
China has built a well-developed and full-fledged air defense system, and any strike against China's nuclear arsenal is at risk of being intercepted.
In addition, China's nuclear arsenal is spread across multiple hidden locations, making it difficult for the U.S. military to determine that it will be able to destroy all targets.
Even if the U.S. military ventures to try to strike, not only will military bases around China be affected, but the U.S. mainland will also face a counterattack from the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Therefore, whether the Pentagon will risk an attack on its homeland and send troops to support Taiwan is a question worth pondering.
Of course, we cannot completely rule out the possibility of US military involvement in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
In the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait and triggering U.S. involvement, other countries may also take the opportunity to take action.
In the case of Russia, its diplomats have explicitly warned that in addition to the United States, there is a need to be wary of moves by countries such as Australia, the Philippines and India.
These countries may take the opportunity to create trouble in the Taiwan Strait region in an attempt to share the pressure on the US military or take advantage of the situation to rob them.
Therefore, we must take these potential threats very seriously and be fully prepared.
In addition to the countries mentioned above, we must also take into account countries such as Japan and South Korea that may support the United States.
These countries have close relations with the United States and are likely to take hostile actions against China at the call of the United States.
In order to prepare for the worst-case scenario that may occur, we must be fully prepared to face a joint siege by the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other countries.
We must remain calm and firm in the face of Aquilino's threats and potential interference from other countries.
We must always adhere to the basic principle of peaceful reunification, but at the same time, we must also be prepared to deal with all kinds of complicated situations.
We must strengthen national defense building, enhance the army's combat effectiveness and adaptability, and ensure national security and territorial integrity.
At the same time, we should also actively carry out diplomatic work, strengthen communication and cooperation with other countries, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
In short, Aquilino's threat is arrogant and unreasonable, but we must not be intimidated or swayed by it.
We must resolutely safeguard national unity and territorial integrity, and at the same time, we must be prepared to deal with all kinds of complicated situations.
Only in this way can we ensure the long-term peace and stability of the country and the happiness and well-being of the people.
In addition, we should also be aware that the final settlement of the Taiwan Strait issue requires the joint efforts and wisdom of all parties.
Differences and disputes are resolved through dialogue and consultation.
The international community should also uphold an objective, fair and rational attitude towards the Taiwan Strait issue and refrain from taking any action that may aggravate contradictions or interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
Finally, it should be emphasized that as a major country, China has always been committed to maintaining world peace and stability while safeguarding its own security and interests.
We are ready to work with other countries to address global challenges and issues and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In the process, we resolutely oppose any form of hegemonism and power politics and firmly uphold multilateralism and the international order.
We are convinced that true international peace and security can be achieved only through equality, mutual benefit and cooperation.