China Warns Taiwan: ‘We Will Get You, Sooner or Later’
Threat Echoes Line from Hit Film ‘Ne Zha 2’ Following Taiwan’s Military Drill Expansion
China’s defence ministry has issued a stark warning to Taiwan, declaring, “We will come and get you, sooner or later,” in response to Taipei’s announcement of expanded military exercises.
The remark, delivered by ministry spokesperson Wu Qian during a press conference on Thursday, gained attention not just for its aggressive tone but also for its apparent resemblance to a line from the blockbuster animated film Ne Zha 2. The movie, a fantasy adventure rooted in Chinese mythology, features a scene where the protagonist tells a groundhog, “I will come back and get you.”
Wu was responding to reports that Taiwan’s annual live-fire Han Kuang exercises will be larger in scale this year. These drills are a key component of Taiwan’s defensive strategy against potential Chinese aggression, as Beijing continues to assert its claim over the self-governing island.
“This is a grave misjudgment of the situation, public sentiment, and the balance of power,” Wu stated. “Such reckless provocation is extremely dangerous. We warn the DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] authorities that resisting an unstoppable force will only lead to self-destruction. We will come and get you, sooner or later.”
The phrase quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media, with users drawing comparisons to Ne Zha 2, which has become a cultural phenomenon. The film recently overtook Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film in China and globally. Its success has fueled nationalistic fervor, with Chinese audiences repeatedly watching and celebrating its triumph over Captain America: Brave New World, which saw a lackluster box office performance in China.
Notably, Ne Zha 2 has not been released in Taiwan.
Taiwan Responds
Taiwan’s defence ministry swiftly rebuked Wu’s comments, condemning China’s military posturing and labeling it the biggest “troublemaker” in international affairs. In a statement, it drew parallels between China’s actions and past failed aggressions, emphasizing, “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and history has proven that any form of aggression and expansion will end in failure. The communist military’s actions in recent years are repeating the mistakes of past invaders and are pushing China towards defeat.”
China has been aggressively modernizing its military, aiming to reach full operational capability for an invasion of Taiwan. Last week, it updated its military regulations to stress that winning battles is its top priority, ordering the armed forces to focus on combat preparedness.
Analysts have noted Beijing’s increasingly severe rhetoric regarding Taiwan. Bill Bishop, a China expert and author of the Sinocism newsletter, pointed out that the latest official readout of the Taiwan Affairs Work Conference omitted a long-standing goal of “promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations,” a phrase included in 2023 and 2024.
US Ambiguity Adds to Taiwan’s Uncertainty
Despite Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its defense, it remains significantly outmatched by China’s military. Its key ally, the United States, has historically provided support, but its commitment has come into question under the second presidency of Donald Trump.
This week, Trump declined to clarify whether the US would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. While the response aligns with the US’s long-standing policy of “strategic ambiguity,” it marks a shift from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who repeatedly asserted that the US would intervene militarily if Taiwan were threatened.
Trump’s stance, coupled with his past remarks questioning US support for Taiwan and accusing the island of “stealing” America’s semiconductor business, has sparked concerns in Taipei over the reliability of Washington’s backing.
As tensions rise, Taiwan faces an increasingly uncertain future, caught between Beijing’s mounting pressure and the unpredictability of US foreign policy.
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