China firmly rejects US lawmaker's Taiwan visit

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A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday that China strongly opposes a US lawmaker's visit to Taiwan.

Amid high tensions with China, Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is on a visit to Taiwan from August 25 to 27, as per Xinhua.

Responding to a media query, the spokesperson stated that the US legislator's visit to Taiwan violates the One-China policy and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, as well as the US commitment to maintain only non-official ties with Taiwan.

The spokesperson said there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it, adding that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing all of China.

“We will not waver in opposing ‘Taiwan independence‘ separatist activities and external interference. We urge the relevant US politician to abide by the One-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communique, immediately stop all forms of official interactions with Taiwan and immediately stop sending wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” the spokesperson added.

The Chinese official concluded by saying that China will continue to take strong measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tensions near Taiwan remain high because China opposes any direct foreign official contact with the island it considers to be its sovereign territory.

The visit of a US congressional delegation to Taiwan earlier this week was condemned by China's Ministry of Defense as a violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The delegation arrived in Taiwan two weeks after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's divisive visit to Taipei, which strained US-China relations significantly.

Beijing regards Taiwan as its sovereign territory and promises that it will eventually be reintegrated with the mainland under the "one country, two systems" model. Taiwan has been governed independently since breaking away from mainland China in 1949.

Although the US officially claims to support the One China Policy, it has long maintained unofficial relations with Taipei, including the supply of arms to the island.

Read next: Xi asked Biden to prevent Pelosi from visiting Taiwan, Biden refused

China carried out fresh military drills around Taiwan, Beijing said, days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to the island, which escalated tensions between the two powers.

Pelosi's visit led China to announce ending cooperation with the United States on several issues, such as climate change, anti-drug efforts, and military talks.

In response to another visit to Taiwan, China announced new military maneuvers surrounding Taiwan, as a team of US politicians met with the island's leader only weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative trip. 

The secret two-day visit came as Beijing launched warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies surrounding Taiwan.

Read next: China announces military drills near Taiwan as US delegation arrives