China urges US to cease official exchanges with Taiwan

In this Jan 24, 2022 photo, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian speaks during a press briefing in Beijing, China. (PHOTO / FMPRC.COM.CN)

BEIJING – China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged the United States to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and cease all forms of official exchanges with Taiwan.

Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated the call at a regular news briefing while responding to a query on the so-called UD-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.

ALSO READ: US urged to cease any form of official exchanges with Taiwan

We would also like to make it clear to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that they need to give up at once on the idea that they could seek independence with US support.

Zhao Lijian, Spokesman, Foreign Ministry

“China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction with the Taiwan region by countries having diplomatic ties with China, including negotiating or concluding agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature. This position is consistent and clear," he said.

There is but one China in the world, Zhao said, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, he added.

The spokesman said that the US must abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, halt all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop negotiating agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

READ MORE: China urges the US to halt arms sale to Taiwan

"We would also like to make it clear to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that they need to give up at once on the idea that they could seek independence with US support, because the more ambitious they are, the more bitter their failure will be," Zhao added.