US at risk of paying 'unbearable price' over Taiwan
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The United States is at risk of paying an “unbearable price” due to its actions over Taiwan, Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister has said.
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Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, Wang Yi.
The United States risks paying an "unbearable price" for its actions regarding Taiwan, according to Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister said.
In an interview for state broadcaster CCTV and official news agency Xinhua broadcast Thursday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that Washington's interference could lead to a dangerous situation.
"The US violated the promises made when China and the US established diplomatic relations, condoned and encouraged 'Taiwan independence' forces, and tried to distort and hollow out the one-China principle," Wang Yi said.
By encouraging 'Taiwan independence' forces, the United States "not only puts Taiwan into an extremely dangerous situation but also exposes the United States to an unbearable price", Wang said.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military and diplomatic pressure in the last two years to assert its sovereignty claim, fueling anger in Taipei and concern in Washington.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, Taiwan has emerged as a key factor in strained relations between China and the United States, the island's most important international backer and arms supplier.
Taiwan claims "independence" and vows to defend its "freedom" and "democracy", whereas China continues to seek to reinstate the Island in the Republic. "Taiwan has no other way forward other than reunification with the mainland," Wang said.
China frequently cites this point as the most sensitive issue in its relations with the US, knowing that the latter requires by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and it has long maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a "Chinese attack".
