China's Defence Minister, Dong Jun, declared that the country's military is prepared to "forcefully" prevent Taiwan's independence during a passionate address at a security forum in Singapore.

While addressing attendees at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Sunday, Dong highlighted that Taiwan is a critical issue for China. He accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that governs Taiwan of persistently striving for separatism and seeking to diminish Chinese identity.

China regards Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification.

Last month, China conducted two days of military exercises around the island following the inauguration on May 20 of President William Lai Ching-te. Lai and the DPP assert that the future of Taiwan should be determined by its people, an assertion Beijing dismisses by labeling him a “separatist”.

“These separatists have recently made extreme declarations, betraying the Chinese nation and their heritage. Their actions will be condemned by history,” Dong stated.

“The Chinese People's Liberation Army is a formidable and unyielding force defending national unity, ready and able to thwart Taiwan's independence decisively and thoroughly,” Dong asserted at the forum.

"Any attempt to separate Taiwan from China will be crushed and its proponents will face their demise," he warned.

Taiwan's government responded by expressing deep regret over what it called "provocative and irrational" comments from the Chinese minister.

Dong's remarks followed significant, direct discussions between the defence leaders of China and the US—the first in 18 months. He met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for over an hour at the event’s host hotel.

“We are always open to dialogue and cooperation, provided both sides are willing to compromise,” Dong remarked. “Increased dialogue is necessary because our two militaries have differences.”

Post-meeting, Austin announced that phone conversations between US and Chinese military leaders would resume "in the coming months", while China praised the "stabilizing" of security relations.

Efforts by President Joe Biden's administration and China to increase communication aim to reduce tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing and Shanghai last month as part of these efforts.

A critical aspect of this dialogue is renewing military-to-military communication to avoid conflict escalation in potential flashpoints.

China ended military communications with the US in 2022 following a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Regarding the South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely and where frequent confrontations with Philippine vessels occur, Dong warned there are "limits" to China's restraint.

China has used water cannons against Philippine vessels in contested areas like Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, seized from the Philippines after a prolonged stand-off in 2012.

“While China has shown considerable restraint in response to rights infringements and provocations, this patience is not infinite,” Dong cautioned.

China accuses the US of exploiting the Philippines to cause problems in the South China Sea.

Following the Scarborough Shoal incident, Manila sought international arbitration. The court ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s claims without legal basis. However, Beijing rejects the ruling.