PNN – Following Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to the three Pacific countries via US overseas territories, China’s Foreign Ministry warned Washington to exercise maximum caution in relations with Taipei.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, quoting from the Asia News Channel, Mao Ning, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that the actions of the separatists are not compatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing the talks of the presidents of China and the United States during the Asia-Pacific meeting in Peru this month.
Referring to the ruling party in Taiwan, he said: If America wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait; it should take into account the independence-seeking characteristics of Lai Ching-te and the officials of the Progressive Democratic Party.
The one-week trip to Lai Ching Te starts this Saturday. He will stop at the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Paulo in Hawaii as one of the American territories. The second stop of Taiwan’s head of state is planned in Guam, another US overseas territory.
The head of government of Taiwan uses Hawaii and Guam for transit to destination countries. The three countries of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Paulo are among the 12 countries with which Taiwan has official relations.
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In a press conference in Beijing, Mao pointed out that the United States should handle the Taiwan issue with maximum caution, firmly oppose Taiwan’s independence, and support the peaceful reunification of China.
The spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry also added: Beijing opposes any US support for Taiwan’s separatist activities. China’s determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference in internal affairs by foreign forces is unshakable.
A State Department spokesperson claimed that the transit of high-ranking Taiwanese officials is normal and consistent with the long-standing US approach, the informal nature of Washington’s relationship with Taiwan, and the US’s “one China” policy, which remains unchanged.
The spokesman added: We see no reason why an unofficial, routine and personal transit should be used as an excuse for provocation.
According to the claims of security officials in the region and Taiwan, China is likely to hold a military exercise in the coming days and use Lai Ching Te’s trip to the Pacific region and planned stops in the United States as an excuse.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told lawmakers on Thursday that Chinese war games in response to Lai’s trip were one possible scenario.
Visiting a temple in New Taipei on Friday, Lai said he was looking forward to visiting the tri-nation Taiwan in the Pacific on his first foreign trip since taking over as the island’s president in May.
Taiwan’s presidential office said in a statement that did not mention the U.S. suspensions that Lai would continue to deepen cooperation with other countries.