Published: 15:09, April 11, 2023 | Updated: 15:11, April 11, 2023
US interaction with Tsai condemned
By Xinhua

McCarthy meeting infringes on China’s sovereignty: FM

This file photo taken on Jul 21, 2019 shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

China strongly condemns the United States’ official interaction with Taiwan authorities and collusion with local separatists seeking “Taiwan independence”, a spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked on April 6 regarding Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen’s “transit” trip through the US.

In disrespect of the stern representations and repeated warnings lodged by China, the US has obstinately allowed Tsai through the US and arranged a high-profile formal meeting between Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the third highest-ranking official of the US government.

It also allowed US officials and congressional members’ contact with Tsai, and provided a platform for Tsai to make separatist remarks seeking “Taiwan independence”.

In essence, the US colluded with Taiwan authorities and connived at attempts by separatists seeking “Taiwan independence” to carry out political activities on the US soil, engage in official interaction between the US and Taiwan, which is part of China, and elevate the substantive relations between the US and Taiwan.

Such acts have gravely violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sent seriously wrong signals to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the acts.

The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations, and constitutes the precondition and foundation for China and the US to establish and develop diplomatic relations.

In the three China-US joint communiques, the US has made unequivocal commitments on keeping non-official relations with Taiwan.

However, over a long period of time, the US has obstinately held on to the strategy of using the Taiwan island to “contain China”, and breached the commitments it had made. It has continuously obscured and hollowed out the one-China principle.

Since taking office, Tsai has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle; connived at, supported and pushed various kinds of separatist words and deeds seeking “Taiwan independence” in the island; and pushed forward incremental “independence” under various kinds of disguise. As a result, cross-Strait relations were severely strained.

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

“Taiwan independence” is absolutely irreconcilable with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said. 

The US is urged to immediately cease all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop upgrading its substantive exchanges with Taiwan, stop creating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and stop going further down the wrong and dangerous path.

In Los Angeles on April 4, lots of people protested against Tsai and her meeting with McCarthy.

“As a region of China, Taiwan can only maintain unofficial relations with the US. However, the Taiwan authorities continue to use the ‘transit’ through the US to challenge the one-China principle,” said Youyi Wu, president of Chinese for Peaceful Unification-West America.

Tsai’s “transit” through New York City and Los Angeles on a 10-day trip to and from Central American countries has prompted wide opposition and protest. When she arrived in New York last week, more than 700 people participated in a series of protests.

Dozens of organizations from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Portland participated in protests on April 5. 

Lia Zhu in San Francisco contributed to this report.