China has reiterated its firm opposition to any official contact between the United States and the Chinese Taipei, urging Washington to stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces in the self-ruled island.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press conference on Wednesday, a day after Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the US met with Mike Johnson, speaker of the US House of Representatives.
“There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. China firmly opposes the US having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region,” Ning said.
She went on to say that the US “needs to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and stop official contact with the Taiwan region.”
The Chinese spokesperson further called on the US to stop sending wrong signals to the so-called “independence” forces of Taiwan and refrain from interfering in the self-governed island’s elections.
Ning also stressed that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ attempt to solicit support from the US and other countries for “Taiwan independence” will not succeed.
China has sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei, and under the “One China” policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The US, too, recognizes the Chinese sovereignty over the island but has long courted Taipei in an attempt to unnerve Beijing.
The Chinese government strongly opposes other countries pursuing official and diplomatic ties with the Chinese Taipei and has consistently warned the US and other states against engaging with the self-proclaimed government in Taipei.
The latest development comes just days ahead of Chinese Taipei’s crucial general elections, which could push the wayward island politically closer to or farther from Beijing.
Taiwan DDP presidential candidate ‘dangerous’: China
Meanwhile, China has warned of the “extreme danger” of Taiwan’s ruling party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, saying he would further promote separatist activities if he comes to power.
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, made the remarks in a statement on Thursday, adding that Beijing hopes that the majority of Taiwanese “make the right choice” ahead of crucial elections.
“I sincerely hope the majority of Taiwan compatriots recognize the extreme harm of the DPP’s ‘Taiwan independence’ line and the extreme danger of Lai Ching-te’s triggering of cross-Strait confrontation and conflict, and to make the right choice at the crossroads of cross-Strait relations,” he said.
On January 13, Taiwan will hold presidential and parliamentary elections.
Tsai Ing-wen, who is the president of Taiwan, comes from the DPP. By tradition, the DPP advocates independence for the island. Taipei claims the island is under constant military threat from China. Beijing dismisses that allegation.
The threat perceived by Taiwan has become a pretext for Tsai to purchase weapons from the United States, the island’s largest arms supplier, only to infuriate Beijing.
