US can't use 'separation of powers' as excuse for Taiwan: Beijing

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The US cannot use the principle of separation of powers as a justification to violate Taiwan's international obligations, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Pengyu.

The recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of the People's Republic of China, has strained US-Chinese relations. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican senator from Tennessee, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a three-day visit.

"China firmly opposes any kind of official ties between the US and the Taiwan region. The United States, as one country, must have one foreign policy only. As part of the US government, Congress has the responsibility to deliver on the US government's commitments to other countries. It must strictly observe the one-China policy and refrain from any official exchanges with China's Taiwan region. Under neither international law nor US domestic legislation does “separation of powers” give the US the excuse to defy international obligations and take actions that go against the basic norms governing international relations, provoke against China's sovereignty, and break its own commitment on the Taiwan question," Liu said.

He reiterated that the United States is exclusively to blame for the worsening of relations and the rise of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

It is worth clarifying that the principle of the separation of powers mandates that the three main institutions of state—executive, legislature, and judiciary—be distinctly separated in order to protect citizens' liberty and prevent tyranny.

Yesterday, Taiwan announced that it was planning on increasing its security budget in light of rising tensions with Beijing, especially due to the latest developments that drove a wider wedge between China and Taipei.

Tensions soared between China and Taiwan earlier this month, reaching their highest in decades, due to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island after Beijing warned both Washington and Taipei against such a trip.

Taipei proposed a security budget of $13.7 billion for 2023, marking a 13% year-on-year increase. The proposal is currently pending parliamentary approval.

The island will also create a special budget allocated specifically for the acquisition of fighter jets and other aircraft and naval vessels to boost its capabilities in the maritime and aerial arenas.