China has hit back at United States President Joe Biden’s claims that Washington would militarily defend Taiwan, warning that no one should underestimate the nation’s “firm resolve, staunch will and strong ability” to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Speaking at a regular news conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to Biden’s remarks, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
Wang’s comment came after Biden, who was visiting Japan, said earlier on Monday in Tokyo that the US would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan, a statement that was seen as a violation by Washington of its commitment to the one-China principle and a fresh challenge to China’s core interests.
The spokesman reiterated that the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair and so allows no foreign interference.
“On issues that bear on China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and other core interests, no one shall expect China to make any compromise or trade-offs,” said Wang, warning the US not to stand on the opposite side of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.
He also urged the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and stipulations in the three China-US joint communiques, honor its commitment to not supporting “Taiwan independence” and be prudent with its words and actions on the Taiwan question.
United States President Joe Biden (left) speaks during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after their meeting at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday. The US should avoid sending wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, lest it should seriously damage China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, Wang said.—Agencies
