United States urged to stop stoking Taiwan tensions

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday urged the United States to stop "adding fuel to the fire" in the Taiwan Strait, stressing that "Taiwan belongs to China, and we will never allow any force to turn the island into a 'hell'."

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to comments from US politicians about strengthening Taiwan's "defense" capabilities in anticipation of a potential conflict with the mainland.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said deterrence is crucial for Taiwan in a potential "invasion" by the mainland and highlighted the need to boost Taiwan's "self-defense" capabilities. Rubio made the comments during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week, as lawmakers reviewed the State Department's budget for the upcoming year, according to media reports.