China condemns US-Taiwan meeting, ready for 'strong measures'
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The most recent landing of the Taiwanese President in the US to meet the House Speaker undermines Chinese territorial integrity and 'sends an egregiously wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces'.
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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on April 5, 2023. (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning relayed Beijing's opposition on Thursday to the official contacts between the US and Taiwan as she called on the US to halt developments with Taiwan and reiterated China's willingness to take "strong and resolute measures" to defend the country's sovereignty.
Mao said in a statement on the website, "The United States acting with Taiwan to connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatists’ political activities in the United States, conduct official contact with Taiwan and upgrade the substantive relations with Taiwan, and frame it as a 'transit.' This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués."
"It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,"
Read more: China sees Tsai's US stop 'provocation', US urges no 'overreaction'
She added that "the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the first red line," continuing that chasing independence for Taiwan 'will lead nowhere'. She advised the US to stick to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, and refrain from supporting "'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan,'"
"Stop at once any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, stop upgrading substantive relations with Taiwan, stop creating factors that could cause tensions in the Taiwan Strait, stop containing China by exploiting the Taiwan question, and not go further down the wrong and dangerous path," the statement said.
In response, China staged military patrols in two areas within the Taiwan Strait ahead of the meeting. "Special joint patrol and inspection operation began today in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait," the Chinese administration posted on WeChat.
Xu Xueyuan, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy in Washington, said she had spoken directly to US officials numerous times and warned them that Tsai's trip would violate China's core interests.
McCarthy and Tsai: 'We’re stronger when we are together'
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen convened at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and at a follow-up press conference, McCarthy said, "I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime."
"America’s support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan," he added.
Tsai replied by saying, “We’re stronger when we are together" and added that her country is 'grateful' to have US support.
The friendship between America and the people of Taiwan has never been stronger. It is my honor to welcome President @iingwen to the @Reagan_Library. pic.twitter.com/2XSIJRv7Vp
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 5, 2023
Tsai's trip follows Honduras' decision to open diplomatic relations with Beijing, leaving Belize and Guatemala among just 13 countries that have official ties with Taipei.
It is noteworthy that China has increased investment in Latin America, a key diplomatic battleground between Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan accused China of using "coercion and intimidation" to lure away its allies after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang officially launched relations in Beijing. Qin formally invited Honduran President Xiomara Castro to visit China "at an early date."
