China objects to US trade deal with Taiwan
Beijing, Jun 2 (EFE).- China on Friday opposed a trade deal signed by the United States and Taiwan hours after the two sides announced the agreement, which aims to strengthen economic and trade ties between Washington and Taipei.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a presser that the deal “gravely violates the one-China principle” and “contravenes the US’ own commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan.”
“China strongly opposes official interactions of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China,” including “negotiating or signing any agreement that implies sovereignty and has an official nature,” the spokesperson insisted.
Mao claimed that the trade cooperation was just a disguised “US tool to rip Taiwan off.” .
She also accused Taiwanese authorities of betraying the interests of their residents and companies and following a separatist agenda to “sell Taiwan away.”
The foreign ministry representative urged US authorities to end all types of official exchanges with Taiwan and “immediately change course.”
“Otherwise all consequences shall be borne by the US side,” she warned.
The agreement was signed in a ceremony in Washington on Thursday evening and was attended by Taiwanese representatives and delegates from the island’s American Institute, considered a de-facto US embassy.
Taiwan’s trade negotiator John Deng, present during the event, described the deal as a landmark in bilateral trade and economic ties.
The Taiwanese authorities said in a statement that the pact would improve the capacity of the island’s industries, especially the SMEs, to take part in international economic, commercial and investment activities.
Beijing says it reserves the right to use force to “reunify” Taiwan, even as a peaceful merger would be its first choice.
The island was the refuge of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) forces after losing the civil war with the Communists, who, since then, have claimed sovereignty over the territory.
In 1979, Washington broke diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing, but continues to be the biggest weapons supplier and military ally for the island, which has emerged as one of the biggest disputes between the US and China. EFE
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