Taiwan issue ‘first red line’ that US must not cross: China

Beijing, Mar 7 (EFE).- The Taiwan issue is the “first red line” that Washington must not cross in China-US relations and it must stop interfering in Beijing’s internal affairs, the Asian giant’s foreign minister warned Tuesday.

“The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed,” Qin Gang said at his first public press briefing since he replaced Wang Yi in December.

“We will continue to work with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts to pursue peaceful reunification (with Taiwan). Meanwhile, we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures.”

The foreign minister, who appeared on the sidelines of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing, maintained that the US “has to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

“The Chinese people have every right to ask ‘Why does the US talk at length about respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity on Ukraine while disrespecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan question?’ ‘Why does the US ask China not to provide weapons to Russia while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan in violation of the August 17 Communiqué?’ ‘Why does the US keep on professing the maintenance of regional peace and stability while covertly formulating a plan for the ‘destruction of Taiwan’?’” Qin said.

He warned that “mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-US relations.”

“If the US truly expects a peaceful Taiwan Strait, it should stop containing China by exploiting the Taiwan question, return to the fundamentals of the One China principle, honor its political commitment to China and unequivocally oppose and forestall Taiwan independence,” he insisted.

Relations between Beijing and Taipei deteriorated last summer when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island, which raised tension in the strait to new heights.

Taiwan, with whom the US does not maintain official relations, is one of the main reasons for conflict between Beijing and Washington, mainly because the US is the main supplier of arms to Taiwan and would be its greatest military ally in the event of a war with the Asian giant.

Beijing has claimed sovereignty over the self-ruled island since Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the war against the communist army. EFE

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