During the current visit of US lawmakers to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing firmly opposes any military interactions between the US and Taiwan, as well as any efforts by the US to arm Taiwan.
This visit follows China’s recent ‘massive’ military drills near the self-governing island.
During a press conference on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning said, “There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China firmly opposes military contact between the US and Taiwan and any attempt to arm Taiwan.”
She added “We urge relevant members of the US Congress to stop playing the Taiwan card, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop supporting and conniving at “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and stop undermining China-US relations and cross-Strait peace and stability.”
Despite China’s strong opposition, members of the US Congress visited Taiwan, violating the one-China principle, the three China-US joint communiques, and the US government’s commitment to maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan.
During a news conference in Taipei, US Representative Michael McCaul, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the exercises as an “intimidation tactic to punish democracy” and promised to strengthen Taiwan’s defense by expediting the supply of defensive weaponry from the US.
McCaul assured that Taiwan would receive the weapons it had bought from the US “as soon as possible,” referencing the recent foreign military financing for Taiwan that was approved by the US House.
The US upholds robust yet unofficial ties with Taiwan and is legally obligated to supply the island with defensive weaponry. Although China’s ruling Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, it claims the island as its territory and has threatened to take it by force if needed.