Politics

Chinese FM says both sides of Taiwan Strait belong to China

Beijing, Apr 21 (EFE).- China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Friday that Taiwan was an “inalienable part” of Chinese territory and that “both sides of the Strait” belonged to China.

“Recently, there have been some absurd rhetoric accusing China of challenging the so-called rules-based international order, of unilaterally changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion, and of disrupting peace and stability across the Strait. Such claims go against basic common sense on international relations and historical justice. The logic is absurd, and the consequences dangerous,” Qin said.

The official made these remarks in Shanghai during his keynote address at the Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World.

“Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times, and both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China. This is Taiwan’s history, and it is also the status quo of Taiwan. Taiwan’s return to China is a component of the post-war international order,” he added.

According to Qin, who defended his country’s commitment to the United Nations Charter, “fair-minded people can see full well who is exploiting and discarding the UN at its own will, who is disrupting the international order, and who is engaged in hegemonic, bullying and high-handed practices.”

“It is not the Chinese mainland, but the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and a handful of countries attempting to take advantage of ‘Taiwan independence’ that are disrupting international rules, unilaterally changing the status quo, and undermining stability across the Strait,” the foreign minister said.

He warned that “those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned,” adding that there would be no “vagueness” in Beijing’s response to any one who attempted to distort the one-China principle, under which Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-governing island.

The Chinese foreign minister’s remarks come at a time of fresh tensions between Beijing and Washington on account of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent visit to the United States, where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

In response, China held massive four-day military drills around Taiwan and imposed sanctions on Taiwanese and US institutions and officials.

Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan, considering it a rebel province since Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the civil war against the communists. EFE

lcl/pd

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