Beijing responds to Blinken: if the US agreed there is only one China, it cannot talk of Taiwan ‘invasion’

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin says, ‘ If Taiwan is part of China, what’s the point of saying the mainland ‘invades’ Taiwan?’

US Secretary of State told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the US promised support for self-ruled Taiwan to build asymmetric defence capabilities

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On Wendesday, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin referred to three joint communiqués signed by Beijing and Washington in late 1970s and early 1980s on the Taiwan issue when stating the US did not challenge the one-China policy. Photo: AP Photo

Published: 2:18pm, 28 Apr 2022Updated: 8:46pm, 29 Apr 2022

Any talk of mainland China “invading” Taiwan is invalid because the one-China policy states that “Taiwan is part of China”, the foreign ministry in Beijing has said in response to comments by the US Secretary of State.

“The United States recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese nationals’ position that there is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

He was referring to three joint communiqués signed by Beijing and Washington in late 1970s and early 1980s on the Taiwan issue.

“The US government did not challenge that position. If Taiwan is part of China, what’s the point of talking about the mainland ‘invading’ Taiwan?” Wang said.

Wang’s comment followed an appearance by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s before the Senate foreign relations committee, where he promised Washington would help Taiwan build up its asymmetric defence capabilities to deter a potential attack by the mainland.

Blinken said the current administration was “determined to make sure that [Taiwan] has all necessary means to defend itself against any potential aggression, including unilateral action by China, to disrupt the status quo that’s been in place now for many decades”.

It followed the approval of a US$95 million weapons deal to Taiwan this month, the third since Biden took office in January last year. The other two arms proposals worth US$850 million include support services for Patriot systems, 40 new M109 Howitzer systems and other vehicles, weapons, parts and services.

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Beijing responds to Blinken: if the US agreed there is only one China, it cannot talk of Taiwan ‘invasion’

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin says, ‘ If Taiwan is part of China, what’s the point of saying the mainland ‘invades’ Taiwan?’ US Secretary of State told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the US promised support for self-ruled Taiwan to build asymmetric defence capabilities

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin says, ‘ If Taiwan is part of China, what’s the point of saying the mainland ‘invades’ Taiwan?’

US Secretary of State told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the US promised support for self-ruled Taiwan to build asymmetric defence capabilities