In Rome talks, China warns US against interference on Taiwan
Beijing, Mar 15 (EFE).- The director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee has warned the United States’ national security advisor that Washington should “stop going further down the dangerous path” on the Taiwan issue.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry’s statements published Tuesday following Monday’s meeting between Yang Jiechi and Jake Sullivan in Rome, Yang said that US actions are “inconsistent with its statements,” as it had pledged to not back Taiwan’s independence.
China expressed “grave concern over and firm opposition to the recent wrong words and deeds of the US side on Taiwan-related issues,” Yang said, and warned against “any attempts to condone and support ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” and urged Washington to recognize the “high sensitivity” of the Taiwan issue, according to the foreign ministry.
With regard to the Ukraine conflict, the Chinese diplomat said that Beijing had not wanted the Ukraine situation to “come to this point,” and backed peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
Repeating a position held by Chinese diplomats since Russia began its military offensive, Yang insisted that the legitimate security concerns of “all sides” should be heard, while urging them to “exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis.”
He also condemned “any words and deeds that spread false information, or distort and discredit China’s position (on Ukraine).”
Several US media outlets have recently published reports of Moscow seeking military aid from Beijing, although this was rejected by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday as “pure disinformation.”
Yang insisted that US-China ties should be based on “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,” as proposed by President Xi Jinping during his last videoconference with his American counterpart Joe Biden.
The diplomat reiterated that Beijing would not allow foreign interference in its internal matters such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
According to the Chinese statements, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to bring bilateral ties back on the “track of sound and steady development.”
Taiwan is one of the major bones of contention between China and the US, as Washington is the main weapons supplier to Taipei as well as a potential military ally in the event of conflict with Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the island.
As per local media reports, Taiwan’s military sources recently warned that China could use the Ukraine situation to launch an “information war” to convince the Taiwanese population that the US would not honor its commitments to defend them, and “sow division” among their ranks. EFE
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