China on Monday expressed firm
opposition to and deploration about recent U.S. moves and remarks
concerning Taiwan, saying any attempt of undermining China's core
interests will meet "resolute counterattacks" from the Chinese side and
will not succeed. According to media
reports, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced a decision to
lift restrictions on interactions with Taiwan. "China
firmly opposes and deplores such practices," Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing when asked to make
comments. Reiterating that there is
only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the
Chinese territory, Zhao said the government of the People's Republic of
China is the sole legal government representing China. This is a fact recognized by the international community and part of the basic norms of international relations, he said. "The
U.S. government has made solemn commitments to the Chinese side on the
Taiwan question," Zhao said, citing the relevant provision of the 1978
joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two countries. According to the
joint communique, the United States recognizes the government of the
People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and
the people of the United States maintain cultural, commercial and other
unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan, Zhao said. "The United States should abide by its own words instead of distorting or contravening its own commitments," he added. The
so-called Taiwan Relations Act seriously violates the one-China
principle and provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, Zhao
said, adding China has been resolutely opposed to it from the very
beginning. "The Chinese people are
unswervingly resolved in safeguarding national sovereignty and
territorial integrity. We will never allow anyone or any force to impede
China's reunification process, and meddle in China's internal affairs
under the pretext of the Taiwan question," said the spokesperson. Calling
the Taiwan question "the most important and sensitive core issue" in
China-U.S. relations, Zhao said the one-China principle serves as the
political foundation underpinning bilateral ties and the premise for the
two sides to establish and develop diplomatic ties. He
urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and provisions
of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and stop any remarks or
attempts of elevating ties with Taiwan and strengthening military
contact with the island. "We urge
Pompeo and like-minded politicians to clearly see the historical trend,
stop maneuvering on Taiwan-related issues and retrogressive actions, and
refrain from going further down the wrong and dangerous path," Zhao
said. "Otherwise, they will certainly be punished severely by history."
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