US urged to sever official exchanges with island

The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it would take countermeasures against the United States for its gross violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three joint communiques, adding that Washington must accept responsibility for the consequences.

The ministry's reaction, published in a statement on its website, came in response to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement congratulating Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on her inauguration to a second term as "president" of the island, which is an integral part of China.

Beijing has expressed strong indignation toward and condemns the US officials' related acts, which have grossly interfered with China's internal affairs, the statement said.

The statement cited the three China-US joint communiques, which are the foundation of the development of China-US relations, saying the US recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and only maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan.

US officials have brazenly broken the commitment made by the US government, sent the wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces and severely jeopardized the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits as well as Sino-US relations, the statement said.

Interference opposed

The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and the integrity of its territory and matters related to its core interests, the statement said. It added that the Chinese government and people have a strong resolve to oppose the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces and safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, oppose any external forces interfering with the country's domestic affairs and realize national unification.

"Taiwan independence" will lead nowhere but a dead end, and any move to condone or support "Taiwan independence" activities is doomed to fail, the statement said. Any practice that damages China's core interests and interferes in the country's domestic affairs will be strongly opposed, it said.

China urges the US to halt official relations with Taiwan, stop interfering with China's internal affairs and avoid remarks and actions that damage cross-Straits peace and stability as well as China-US ties, it added.

The Ministry of National Defense also expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Pompeo's statement on Wednesday. The ministry said the People's Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

The ministry said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and the actions of the US have seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, putting the development of relations between the two militaries in danger and damaging peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

The Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and the sentiments of 1.4 billion Chinese people and no external interference is allowed.

"We firmly object to any form of official exchanges and military contacts between Taiwan and any country. We will never allow anyone, any organization, any political party to split any piece of Chinese territory from China in any form at any time," the ministry said in a statement.

Separatist forces and their actions contradict national justice and will surely be recorded in history as shameful, the statement said, adding that the PLA has a firm will, full confidence and sufficient capacity to frustrate any form of external interference and "Taiwan independence" attempts.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said China urges the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three joint communiques, stick to the basic rules of international relations and stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan.

Ma said in an earlier announcement in response to Tsai's inaugural address that the situation of the cross-Straits relationship is complicated and serious, and the refusal of the island's Democratic Progressive Party to recognize the one-China principle unilaterally undermines the political foundation for peaceful development across the Straits.

He said some Taiwan politicians have tried to create confrontation and obstruct exchanges and cooperation across the Straits, attempting to sever the relationship between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland geographically and legally.

"They have stepped up to collude with external forces to sabotage peace across the Straits and seek 'Taiwan independence' during the COVID-19 pandemic," Ma said, adding that a small number of separatists have also clamored for the so-called "revision of the law" and "referendum amendment" conspiracy to justify "Taiwan independence".

"These acts have seriously damaged the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and peace and stability across the Straits," he added.

Ma stressed that national reunification is indispensable for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and is "unstoppable" by anyone or any force.

"We adhere to the basic principle of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems' and are willing to create a broad space for peaceful reunification, but we will never leave any room for any form of 'Taiwan independence' activities," he said.

He said the mainland will continue to unite the majority of Taiwan compatriots and work together to promote exchanges and cooperation, harmonize their bonds and deepen the development of cross-Straits integration.

The mainland will also actively help Taiwan business leaders and companies resume work and production and support their enjoyment of more development opportunities and sense of gain in their motherland.

"We are willing to strengthen exchanges with Taiwan parties, groups and individuals based on the common political ground of adhering to the one-China principle and opposing 'Taiwan independence'," he said, adding that the Chinese mainland will continue to promote dialogue on cross-Straits relations and the nation's future.