Beijing vows to protect national unity ‘at all costs’ after US senators’ Taiwan visit
- US delegation travelled to the island in a military plane to announce a vaccine donation, while Antony Blinken has signalled trade talks may resume
- Washington’s increasing engagement with Taipei may push Beijing towards more aggressive action, according to analysts
China’s defence ministry has vowed to defend Beijing’s sovereignty over Taiwan “at all costs”, after US senators made a high-profile visit to the island in a military plane.
The defence ministry on Tuesday said the trip had seriously damaged the foundation of China-US ties and the stability of the Taiwan Strait, calling it “extremely irresponsible”.
“If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from mainland China, the People’s Liberation Army will hit back and be determined to protect national unity and territorial integrity at all costs,” ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement.
He said Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party was playing with fire and doomed to fail.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said earlier in the day that the US should not send “wrong signals” to Taiwanese independence forces, and should stop all official exchanges with the island.