CHINA FIRES BACK, WARNS U.S. OVER TAIWAN ISSUE
Written By Mart Shalom E. Bernales
Following the United States’ statements over the Taiwan issue, China sent a warning to the superpower on Thursday, noting them not to “play with fire.”
The tension between the two countries sparked when the U.S. expressed concern the previous week as 5 Chinese aircraft were seen on Monday, followed by 25 Chinese Air Force crafts on Tuesday across Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States decided to deepen its relation to Taiwan amidst China’s increasingly aggressive military actions in the Taiwanese territory.
On the contrary, the Chinese Foreign Ministry replied to Washington’s remarks in a written response to REUTERS that the People’s Republic of China has filed a complaint against the United States’ inclusion in the issue and that the Chinese government is determined to protect the country’s sovereignty.
The ministry urges the United States “not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue, immediately stop any form of U.S.-Taiwan official contacts, cautiously and appropriately handle the matter, and not send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces so as not to subversively influence and damage Sino-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
“Do not stand on the opposite side of 1.4 billion people,” it added.
The U.S. supports Taiwan in the sense that the Republic of China (Taiwan’s formal name) is an independent country with its own established government as opposed to China’s claim as their own under the “One China Principle.”
The Taiwan rift is China’s most sensitive territorial issue and is a regular source of conflict between them and the U.S.
Like many other smaller countries, the United States is Taiwan’s leading arms supplier.
Under the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty, the U.S. is obliged to defend or provide Taiwan the means to defend itself against all potential hostilities that would compromise its national security.
Meanwhile, China has renounced all use of force and violence in resolving the issue of the China-Taiwan turmoil.
Also, China believes that the U.S. is in collaboration with Taiwan against China and is up to support all nations that want Taiwan to gain its absolute freedom.
On the other hand, Taiwanese Pres. Tsai Ing-wen says that Taiwan is an independent country, and she is willing to defend its security and sovereignty.