China will not compromise on Taiwan issue: Wang Yi to Blinken

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Jun 2023 10:34

China said it is out of the question for China to compromise on the Taiwan issue.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, meets with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, second right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023 (AP)

China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday that Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Office Director Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting today that Beijing will not compromise on the Taiwan issue and that the US must respect the sovereignty of China.

The CCTV added that during their meeting, Yi delved into the implications of the Taiwan issue, noting that it is out of the question for China to compromise on the matter.

He added that the US must respect the one-China principle as per the three joint US-China communiques, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose Taiwan separatism.

"On this issue, China has no room to compromise or concede," CCTV reported Wang Yi.

"It is necessary to make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation or conflict," Wang Yi told Blinken during a meeting in Beijing, according to a readout from Chinese state media.

Relations between the two largest economies have deteriorated rapidly in the past years. The trade war on China, which was launched during former US President Donald Trump's term, was stretched by Biden's administration to include a military escalation against Beijing in the South China Sea, including violating the "one China" policy and deepening relations with Taiwan.

Biden's administration also launched a tech offensive against China's chip industry, bringing together its allies to join in on the efforts to curb the Asian giant's developing semiconductor sector.

The conflict between the two countries also raised concerns over a possible military clash that might lead to an all-out world war.

On Sunday, Blinken landed in Beijing, marking his first visit to the country as Secretary of State and the first of an official in his position since 2018.

The visit was planned for February, but it had to be postponed after tensions with China forced Washington to suspend its plans over allegations that China had sent a spy balloon over US airspace.

Yesterday, Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang who warned the US Secretary of State during their meeting that the Taiwan issue is "the core of China's core interests."