DM Monitoring
BEIJING: The United States is at risk of paying an “unbearable price” due to its actions over Taiwan, Wang Yi, state councillor and foreign minister, said in an interview with state media on Thursday.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claim. By “encouraging ‘Taiwan independence’ forces” the United States “not only puts Taiwan into an extremely dangerous situation but also exposes the United States to an unbearable price”, Wang said.
Taiwan has emerged as a key factor in strained relations between China and the United States, the island’s most important international backer and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan says it is an independent country and vows to defend its freedom and democracy. China regularly describes the island as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States. “Taiwan has no other way forward other than reunification with the mainland,” said Wang.
While the United States recognises only one China, it is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi will visit Maldives and Sri Lanka upon invitation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian announced on Thursday.
“Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the two South Asian countries come at the 50th anniversary of China-Maldives diplomatic relations, 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact,” he said while sharing more information during his regular briefing held here.
He said that China and the two countries are traditional neighbours and important partners with close high level exchanges, deep practical cooperation, broad common interests and the same or similar positions on many regional and international issues.
The Spokesperson said that faced with changing landscape and pandemic once in a century, China stands together with the two countries to overcome difficulties with effective anti-epidemic cooperation and practiced its neighbourhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.
