BEIJING – Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded to media questions about US President Joe Biden’s remarks in Tokyo yesterday that the United States would “defend” Taiwan militarily.
These are the journalists’ questions and Wang’s replies, according to transcript released on the ministry’s official website:
AFP: President Biden has said that the United States would defend Taiwan militarily if Beijing invaded or forcibly tried to take control of Taiwan. He has said, we agreed with the one China policy, we signed on it, but the idea that Taiwan can be taken by force is just not appropriate. How does the Foreign Ministry view this US position? And how will this affect China-US ties going forward?
Wang: China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the remarks by the US side. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a consensus of the international community and a political commitment made by the US to China. The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair that brooks no foreign interference. On issues concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and other core interests, China has no room for compromise. No one should underestimate the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one should stand in opposition to the 1.4 billion Chinese people.
We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three China-US joint communiqués, honor its important commitment to not supporting “Taiwan independence”, speak and act with prudence on the Taiwan question, and avoid sending any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, lest it should seriously undermine peace across the Taiwan Strait and China-US relations. China will take firm actions to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests. We mean what we say.
NHK: In their meeting, the US president and Japanese prime minister strongly opposed China’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea and reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Do you have any comment?
Wang: China’s position on Taiwan, Diaoyu Dao and maritime issues is consistent and clear-cut. We firmly oppose attempts by the US and Japan to hype up relevant issues to damage China’s reputation and interfere in China’s internal affairs. The biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the DPP authorities’ separatist activities and the moves of a certain countries, including the US, to aid and abet such efforts. Japan bears grave historical responsibilities to the Chinese people on the Taiwan question. It should speak and act with extra prudence, earnestly learn lessons from history and avoid repeating past mistakes.
I must stress that the US’ so-called “deterrence” and “containment” policy has already disrupted Europe. It should stop trying to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific should become the pacesetter of peace and development, not the arena of geopolitics. The US and Japan hold onto the obsolete Cold War mentality, gang up to build military alliances and small cliques featuring economic decoupling, and stoke division and confrontation. Their scheme is unpopular in the Asia-Pacific and will never succeed.
PTI: In his press conference today [yesterday], Mr. Biden said that any action by the mainland on Taiwan will not only dislocate the entire region, and it would be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine. What’s your response?
Wang: It is absurd to compare the Taiwan question to the Ukraine issue as the two are of completely different nature. We once again urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués and not to underestimate the Chinese people’s strong resolve, will and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Yonhap News Agency: On May 21, the ROK and the US held a leaders’ summit and released a joint statement, which stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Does China have any comment?
Wang: The Chinese side has lodged solemn representations with relevant sides. Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory and the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affairs. We will never allow any country to meddle in China’s domestic affairs in any form.
AFP: US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the United States is looking to deepen economic partnerships with Taiwan, including on high technology issues, including on semiconductors and supply chains. Now, this was said during the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. How does Beijing view US attempts to deepen trade ties with Taiwan?
Wang: I would like to reiterate that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China. This is a widely-held consensus of the international community. Recent US moves on Taiwan challenge the one-China principle and escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. This is no different from playing with fire, which is very dangerous. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and stipulations in the three China-US joint communiqués, avoid sending wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and immediately stop meddling in China’s internal affairs, lest it should undermine China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responds to a journalist’s question during yesterday’s regular press conference in Beijing yesterday. – Photo courtesy of Foreign Ministry
