Honorable National Security Council Deputy Director-General Nestor C. Herico,

Honorable DFA ASPAC Assistant Secretary Evangeline T. Ong-Jimenez Ducrocq,

Honorable Presidential Special Envoys Benito Techico & Maynard S. Ngu,

Dear Diplomatic Colleagues,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Good evening! Welcome, and thank you all for joining us at this reception to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Over the past 98 years, the PLA has made indelible contributions to national independence, the people’s liberation, and China’s prosperity. The PLA has always been committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, while also playing a vital role in maintaining peace and stability around the world. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in military modernization, and the PLA is striding forward to join the ranks of world-class armed forces.

The stronger China’s military grows, the greater the global force for safeguarding peace becomes. China remains firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and upholds a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. Among the world’s major powers, China is the country with the best record on peace and security. Moreover, China is the largest troop contributor and the second largest financial contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During World War II, Japanese militarism blatantly launched a war of aggression, inflicting immense suffering on the peoples of China, the Philippines, and other Asian nations. In those difficult years, the Chinese and Filipino peoples stood in solidarity and fought side by side against Japanese militarist aggression with unwavering resolve.

We will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice—among them was Clarence Kwangson Young, then Consul General of China to the Philippines. He, along with eight other Chinese diplomats, was brutally killed by the Japanese army for protecting their compatriots and refusing to surrender.

We always remember with deep gratitude the brave warriors of the Philippine-Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Forces, known as the Wha-Chi, who fought courageously alongside Filipino resistance fighters and dealt significant blows to the invading forces. Today, we are honored to have with us Mr. Wang Zhenli, a 100-year-old veteran of the Wha-Chi. Let us extend to him our highest respect and heartfelt appreciation—and give him a warm round of applause.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, 

History, when remembered, serves as a powerful guide for the future. Only by learning from the past can humanity prevent the return of the darkest hours.

We must firmly uphold the authority and central role of the United Nations in international affairs. In 1945, the San Francisco Conference unanimously finalized the UN Charter, which laid the foundation for multilateralism, established the fundamental principles of international relations, and provided guidance for the construction and functioning of the post-war international order. We must work together to safeguard the hard-won achievements of World War II and strongly oppose any attempt to distort historical truth. We remain committed to upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order grounded in international law, and a rules-based multilateral trading system. Only through strengthened solidarity and cooperation can we effectively rise to meet the global challenges of our time.

We must resolutely uphold the one-China principle and oppose any separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence.” Taiwan’s return to China was a key outcome of the victory in World War II. Foundational international legal documents—including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender—affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and laid the legal groundwork for the post-war international order. Today, a small number of countries are attempting to distort and challenge the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 by reviving the false claim that “Taiwan’s status is undetermined” and by supporting “Taiwan independence” forces seeking to obstruct China’s reunification and destabilize peace across the Taiwan Strait. It must be reaffirmed that the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair and does not brook external interference. Any action that undermines China’s core interests will be met with firm and resolute responses.

We must resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics, and work together to promote global peace and shared prosperity. Our world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. It has entered a new era of turbulence and transformation, marked by the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, as well as widening deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. In response, President Xi Jinping has proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, along with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative—offering a path toward a more just and equitable system of global governance. China stands ready to join hands with all peace-loving peoples to create a brighter future for humanity.

Now, I would like to propose a toast:

— To the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army;

— To the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War;

— To peace and development in the region and the world.

Cheers!