Beijing says interference with one-China principle would ‘seriously’ impact on peace
Taiwan Affairs Office emphasises that one-China policy is the basis of China-US relations
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday that any interference with or damage to the one-China principle would have a serious impact on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
US president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States did not necessarily have to stick to its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of “one China”, further upsetting Beijing which was already angered by Trump’s earlier telephone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Watch: China warns Trump on Taiwan comments
The issue is highly sensitive for Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, and expressed “serious concern” about Trump’s remarks.
An Fengshan, a spokesman for the mainland’s policymaking Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news conference that the Taiwan issue was about China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Upholding the one-China principle is the political basis of developing China-US relations, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
“If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy, stable development of China-US relations is out of the question, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be seriously impacted,” An added.
Beijing is deeply suspicious of Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party, believing they want to push for the island’s formal independence, a red line for Beijing.
It has repeatedly warned that the hard-won peace and stability across the narrow strait that separates them could be affected by any moves towards independence.
“I think the facts tell these people that Taiwan independence is a dead end,” An said.
