BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it will take forceful measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity after the deputy leader of China’s Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te, stopped over in New York and in San Francisco.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated at a daily briefing that China strongly condemned the U.S. decision to arrange the so-called “stopover” for Lai, saying it had sent seriously wrong signals to separatist forces for “Taiwan independence.”
“At the very heart of China’s core interests, the Taiwan question is the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations,” Wang added.
The spokesperson reiterated the one-China principle, which he called “a basic norm recognized by international community” and “prerequisite and foundation for the establishment and development of China-U.S. relationship.”
Wang also urged Washington to abide by the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, which clearly state that the United States promises to maintain unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.
The act of Washington allowing Lai to make the “stopover” and carry out “political activities” that promote “Taiwan independence” exposes U.S. hypocrisy of saying one thing while doing another.
Wang urged the United States to cease any formal exchanges with Taiwan and stop its support for “Taiwan separatist forces and its secessionist activities.” China will take resolute measures to firmly safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
