Blinken, Japan FM discuss 'maintaining peace' in Taiwan
China has announced that it will take drastic measures to protect its sovereignty and national interests if the US interferes in the country's internal affairs.
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US Secretary of State and Japanese Foreign Minister
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Japanese counterpart Hayashi Yoshimasa in Tokyo on Monday and addressed, among other things, "sustaining peace" in the Taiwan Strait, according to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price in a readout of the call.
“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Hayashi discussed their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Price said.
“The Secretary underscored the importance of US-Japan-ROK [South Korea] cooperation, which reinforces a free, open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
Read next: Japan delegation visits Taiwan as part of 'Indo-Pacific strategy'
Blinken and Hayashi, according to Price, hailed the establishment of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and opposed Pyongyang's ballistic missile testing.
“They reaffirmed their resolute support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and committed to holding the Kremlin accountable for its war of aggression in Ukraine,” Price said.
Earlier on Friday, US President Joe Biden, who is also in Japan, stated that the US is prepared to intervene militarily to "defend Taiwan" in the event of an "invasion".
China has encouraged the US to be cautious in what it says and does about the Taiwan issue, and Beijing will take firm measures to preserve its sovereignty and security interests, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday.
China warns Sullivan against interference in Chinese affairs
Last week, during a phone call between National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, the latter said China will take drastic measures to protect its sovereignty and national interests if the US interferes in the country's internal affairs.
"China will take decisive actions to protect its sovereignty and security interests, and we will make our words a reality," Yang said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
It is noteworthy that China considers the island of Taiwan an integral part of its territory and thus has long sought to reincorporate it into the mainland.
Beijing tried to reclaim the island of Taiwan multiple times. Just southwest of Taiwan, Hainan Island, another island that almost matches Taiwan's size extends along the Chinese mainland, and China reincorporated it in 1950.
