China warns US over irresponsible remarks on Taiwan

Taiwan island is China’s territory and the US is in no position to point fingers over the Taiwan question, Beijing stressed, slamming US Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby’s statement on recent military exercises conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army near the island of Taiwan.

For some time now, the US has been making negative moves to sell arms to Taiwan and strengthen official and military ties with the island, including the launch of a $750 million arms sale plan, the landing of US military aircraft on the island and frequent sailing of US warships across the Taiwan Straits. These provocative actions damage China-US relations and undermine regional peace and stability, said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Kirby had told reporters that the US commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid” and that “the US is united with Taiwan against the current danger posed by the People’s Republic of China”.

The remarks by the US senior official seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, sending an extremely wrong and irresponsible signal to the outside world, Zhao stated. 

The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. On the Taiwan question, the US should abide by the principle and the joint communiqués, rather than something it has unilaterally cooked up, Zhao added. 

“Taiwan independence” is a dead end, and the Chinese mainland will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush any attempt at “Taiwan independence”. China’s resolve and will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity are firm, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying has also stressed at previous routine press briefing, urging the US to correct its mistakes and stop supporting secessionists in the island. 

On Wednesday, official Twitter accounts of the US State Department posted photos and tweets of Under Secretary of State José Fernandez and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink respectively meeting with Taipei Economic and Cultural “Representative” Bi-khim Hsiao, claiming that the US commitment to Taiwan remains rock-solid, and the US will further strengthen ties with Taiwan. Media reports said that the US has invited Hsu Yen-pu, Taiwan’s “Army Commander,” to visit the US.

American leaders and senior officials have repeatedly stated that the US has never had any intention of changing its one-China policy. However, its words and deeds have repeatedly shown that such commitments are nothing but empty words. The US should stop its clumsy tactic of saying one thing while doing another, the Chinese Embassy in the US announced. 

The embassy warned the US not to fantasize about seeking China’s support and cooperation while wantonly challenging China’s red line on the Taiwan question, adding that China will never accept it.

On Wednesday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, mocked an official from the island’s legislative department for daydreaming that the island could “establish diplomatic relations with the US before 2028”. Ma added the official would not see his daydream come true even when he enters coffin.