Beijing
China on Monday categorically told the US that it will not tolerate any activity aimed at dividing the country and will take all necessary steps to defend its sovereignty.
China said that it will make sincere efforts for the peaceful reunification of Taiwan. China’s remarks are being seen as a response to US President Joe Biden’s statement on Taiwan.
Biden has said that if China tries to attack self-ruled Taiwan, the US military will protect it. China claims this self-governing island.
Biden was asked on Sunday in an interview during the ’60 Minutes’ program aired on news channel ‘CBS News that “if China attacks Taiwan, will US security forces, American men and women protect it.” In response, Biden said “yes”.
After the interview, the White House said there was no change in US policy, CBS News reported. Under this policy, the US believes that the issue of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully, but the policy does not specify whether US security forces can be sent in the event of a Chinese attack.
This is the second time since May this year that Biden has responded positively to questions about US military intervention to defend Taiwan’s independence. During his visit to Japan in May, Biden said that the United States, united with Japan and other countries, would not allow China to forcibly occupy Taiwan.
Asked at a news conference in Tokyo whether the US was ready to engage militarily to defend Taiwan, Biden answered “yes” to the question.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, reacting to Biden’s interview with CBS News, said on Monday that the US leader’s remarks seriously violated the “one China” policy and three joint government circulars related to Taiwan. Is.
Mao Ning said Biden’s remarks seriously violated the US commitment not to support Taiwan’s independence and sent a wrong signal to forces seeking Taiwan’s independence.
The Chinese spokesman said, “China condemns it and strongly opposes it and we have started many representations in this regard.” Mao said, “China is only one and Taiwan is part of it and the Republic of China ( The government of the PRC) is the only government representing the whole of China.
“We will strive for the possibility of peaceful integration with utmost sincerity and efforts,” Mao said. In the meantime, we will not tolerate any activity aimed at dividing China and we reserve all options to take the necessary measures.” “We urge the United States to fully understand the extremely important and highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan issue, and to adhere to the ‘One China principle and the three Joint Governing Circulars, not to support Taiwan’s independence,” he said. Seriously implement the commitment of the US leadership.”
Biden’s statement comes at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government has tried to threaten Taiwan by firing missiles at sea and sending fighter jets to nearby areas. Several political figures, including US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have travelled to Taiwan, due to which tensions have increased.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked Biden on Monday for “reaffirming the US government’s steadfast commitment to the security of Taiwan”.
Earlier this month, the US agreed to sell US$1.1 billion in weapons to Taiwan to boost its defence capabilities. China had expressed a lot of displeasure about this.
Tensions have also arisen between the two countries regarding Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
