Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/article/1795000/china-warns-taiwan-opposition-leader-over-independence-calls-while-us
China/ Diplomacy

Beijing warns Taiwan opposition leader over independence calls while in US

Remarks by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office come two weeks before Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party, travels to the US to meet government officials

Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, will meet officials, academics and overseas Taiwanese during a 12-day visit to the US. Photo: AFP

Beijing warned the leader of Taiwan’s main pro-independence opposition party on Wednesday against engaging in activities promoting the island’s independence while she is in the United States later this month.

The remarks by the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office came two weeks before Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and a presidential contender in January’s elections, travels to the US to meet government officials, academics and overseas Taiwanese.

The US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is the democratic island’s biggest ally and provider of weapons.

Previous trips to the US by senior Taiwanese politicians have angered Beijing and damaged Sino-US relations.

“We firmly oppose any person engaging in any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities in the international arena,” Fan Liqing, spokeswoman of the Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news briefing in response to a question about Tsai’s 12-day trip.

Fan said the peaceful development of cross-strait relations depended on opposing Taiwan independence and on the “1992 consensus”, referring to Beijing’s cherished “one China” principle that includes Taiwan as part of China.

Tsai has said she favours “maintaining the status quo” when asked about her China policy.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province, to be put under Beijing’s control by force if necessary.

Last month Beijing warned the DPP to heed the lessons of the last time it was in power and not push for independence.

The DPP’s Chen Shui-bian infuriated Beijing and strained Taiwan’s relationship with the US during his time as president from 2000 to 2008.

Mainland authorities accused him of trying to push for independence and weaken the island’s Chinese cultural heritage.