China: US ‘show of support’ for Taiwan futile

This undated photo shows the building of China's Foreign Ministry. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – China on Tuesday urged the United States to handle Taiwan-related issues prudently to avoid further undermining China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to recent media reports that the United States will send five former high-level officials to visit Taiwan in a show of US support to the island.

READ MORE: China condemns latest US warship transit of Taiwan Straits

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the Chinese people are firmly committed to safeguarding their national sovereignty and territorial integrity

Wang said the Chinese people are firmly committed to safeguarding their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "The US demonstration of so-called support for Taiwan is futile, whoever it sends."

He urged the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, stop all official exchanges with Taiwan, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently to avoid further undermining China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

When asked to comment on the US recent act to hype up the passage of the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson through the Taiwan Straits, Wang said if the US side intends to embolden the secessionists seeking "Taiwan independence" via such a move, "this will only expedite the collapse of the 'Taiwan independence' forces, and the United States will pay a heavy price for its risky behavior."

ALSO READ: Efforts urged to promote peace across Taiwan Straits

"If the US side attempts to intimidate or pressure China via such a move, we'd like to warn the United States that any military deterrence is as weak as scrap iron in front of the Great Wall of steel constituted by the 1.4 billion Chinese people," Wang said.