China urges the authorities in Taiwan not to seek any separatist attempts and condemns U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said in Beijing on Thursday.
Zhang's remarks came after he was asked to comment on reports that some officials and experts in the Taiwan region suggested the mainland's recent low-profile military exercises are a new tactic to normalize military deployments against Taiwan.
"Taiwan is China's Taiwan. It brooks no foreign interference. To be honest, the separatist forces can stop racking their brain on what approaches the People's Liberation Army would adopt to defeat them for reunification, because their attempt to resist reunification by force will hit a dead end, and the harder they try to seek secession, the tighter the noose around their neck will be," said Zhang.
Commenting on reports that the first batch of M1A2T battle tanks purchased by Taiwan from the United States have arrived in Taiwan, Zhang said: "We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, earnestly honor its commitment not to supporting the separatist forces in Taiwan, immediately stop arming Taiwan, and cease its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that seeking secession by soliciting U.S. support is doomed to failure and resorting to force to resist reunification leads nowhere. A few pieces of U.S. weaponry won't be the magic straw that can save a drowning man; they are nothing but easy targets on the battlefields. The PLA will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any separatist plot and foreign interference."
Defense Ministry warns Taiwan separatist forces over arms purchases
A new train route from Harbin to Mohe in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is offering tourists a unique cultural experience as part of China's booming winter tourism services.
Harbin and Mohe are two prominent winter tourist destinations in China. Harbin is home to the world's largest snow theme park, Ice and Snow World, which features intricate ice and snow sculptures and landscapes spanning one million square meters. Mohe, China's northernmost city, offers unique experiences, including encounters with forest reindeer and sightings of the breathtaking Northern Lights.
This year, the train journey between Harbin and Mohe offers a unique and memorable experience for tourists, providing a thrilling lag to their winter adventure. The train departs Harbin every day at 18:20, winding its way through the snow-covered landscapes of northeast China. The 18-hour ride is a celebration of the region's rich culture, immersing passengers in the vibrant traditions and customs of the area.
Travelers can enjoy the live performances of Yangge, a song-and-dance duet popular in the Northeast of China, and are even invited to join in to fully enjoy the lively and warm atmosphere. The ornaments and cushions on the train with distinctive local style ooze the generous, warm-hearted, and humorous spirit of the region.
Tourists from across China are flocking to experience the unique cultural journey offered by the new train route. Liu Huixing, a tourist from Changsha, Hunan Province, expressed her enthusiasm for the trip.
"We are from Hunan's Changsha, and we will stay in Heilongjiang for seven days. The shows tonight were amazing, very joyful, we also participated, and loved it so much," she said.
"The activities offer tourists from southern China a special experience. In this way, they can enjoy northeast China's culture before they arrive at Mohe City. And our train is very popular," said Shi Lei, the conductor of the train.
The unique offerings of the train complements local attractions and have made the Harbin-to-Mohe route a key driver of Heilongjiang's winter tourism boom.
Over 87 million tourist trips were made to Harbin between November 2023 and February 2024, generating revenue of 125 billion yuan (about 17 billion U.S. dollars), the highest in its history up to last year.
China's central government has also set goals that by 2027, the total value of winter tourism should reach 1.2 trillion yuan (about 164 billion U.S. dollars), and by 2030, increase to 1.5 trillion yuan (about 206 billion U.S. dollars).
The Asian Winter Games to be held in Harbin in February 2025 will make winter tourism even more popular in China.
China's northeast region sees surge in winter tourism with new train route
