China Urges US to Halt Official Exchanges with Taiwan, Reaffirms ‘One-China’ Principle
China has once again urged the United States to refrain from holding official exchanges with Taiwan, which it views as an integral part of its territory. The call came on Monday from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, who emphasized that the US should “abide by the one-China principle.”
The statement followed reports of a visit by Taiwan’s regional security official Joseph Wu Jaushieh to Washington, where he is said to have participated in a “secret” meeting with US officials, known as the “special channel.” The special channel has reportedly been in use for years between Washington and Taipei, as outlined by the Financial Times. Lin Jian firmly reiterated China’s stance, condemning any form of official interactions between the US and Taiwan, and stressing that the US should respect the one-China policy and the three joint communiques between China and the US. “We urge the US to stop meddling in the Taiwan question and avoid escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait,” Lin stated.
Furthermore, Lin criticized Taiwanese authorities, particularly leader Lai Ching-te, for relying on the US in their pursuit of what China considers “Taiwan independence.” He asserted that such efforts would ultimately be unsuccessful, reaffirming that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory. While the US acknowledges the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, it continues to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan, which has operated independently since 1949. The ongoing tensions between China, Taiwan, and the US continue to pose significant challenges to regional stability.
