China cannot vow not to use force against separatists: Envoy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Apr 2023 14:20

A Chinese envoy says protecting the One China principle is a starting condition and the foundation upon which everything else rests.

Then-ambassador and current Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming speaks during a news conference in London, Britain August 15, 2019 (Reuters)

The Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs, Liu Xiaoming, stressed in an interview with TASS that China reserved its right to protect its national security using any possible means, underlining that Beijing will not vow to abstain from using force with separatists on Taiwan if that is what it takes for China to preserve its territorial integrity.

Liu explained that "protecting the principle of ‘One China’ and ‘one country’ is a starting condition and the foundation upon which everything else rests," and argued that "a peaceful reconciliation is very important but, still, we reserve the right to take all possible measures to protect our country’s security and territorial integrity."

Significantly, China reiterated that it had never "in particular" promised "not to use force" and stressed that had such a promise been made, "a peaceful reunification would have become absolutely impossible."

The Chinese Special Envoy further expanded on the topic, emphasizing that the Chinese position on the use of force is not directed "against our Taiwanese compatriots," but rather toward "separatists on Taiwan and other external forces seeking to divide our country."

Liu was asked about the possibility of a conflict around Taiwan, instead, he said it would rather be better to "tell all countries around the world about the need to respect and adhere to the One China principle" as it is the "key to stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait."

According to China, as explained by the Special Envoy, if the principle is respected, not only will peace and stability be "ensured in the Taiwan Strait," but also "peaceful development on both shores" will be significant. However, in the event that separatists and their allies fail to adhere to the One China Principle, "the Taiwan Strait would plunge into instability," he warned.

Liu pointed out that the provocative visit made by former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan was the igniter of instability in the region.

Lindsey Graham urges US 'defense alliance' with Taiwan

A couple of weeks ago, US Senator Lindsey Graham said he would support sending troops and military aid to Taiwan in order to fight what he called a Chinese "invasion" of the island.

The Senator who spoke on Fox News on April 9 said, “I think they're [China] setting the stage possibly for a blockade of Taiwan, that the Communist Chinese party is going to test us dramatically this year and next year before the [Taiwanese] election."

Graham, who has been described as a “war hawk”, compared the situation in Taiwan to that of West Germany in 1961.

He said, "In 1961, the Russians tried to isolate West Berlin. So I'm fearful that the Chinese may be setting conditions to blockade Taiwan in the coming months or weeks, and we need to respond forcefully if they do that."

He has also been a staunch supporter of the Ukrainian government and has called for a similar military strategy to be implemented in Taiwan. Graham believes that the US should start training Taiwanese troops “so they can fight like Ukrainians.” He also advocated for the reinstallment of nuclear-tipped missiles in US submarines and for sending F-16 fighter jets to the country. The Senator also teased landing US troops to "defend" the Island.

The Republican Senator has historically viewed Democratic party leaders' foreign policy as “ambiguous” or “indecisive”. He believes that the same practices are being carried out in Taiwan. Graham said US policy is of “strategic ambiguity” since the US holds a One China policy but does not endorse the Chinese Communist Party’s sovereignty over the island.

Instead, he believes that the US should form a strategic military alliance with Taiwan.

The warmonger claimed he does uphold a One China policy but also stated that the US should fight for Taiwan because it is a "democracy". He added that he would even support moving “war forces to South Korea and Japan” in an attempt to encircle China.

The key motivator for Graham is not so-called “democracy”. In fact, as he later revealed, a Chinese reunification with Taiwan would put US economic interests at harm as the island produces more than “90% of the high-end chips” that the US covets.