[Reporter Qiu Yiyi/Taipei report]
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hosted a regular press conference on May 10. A reporter asked a question. On May 5, the US State Department website updated and revised the “Facts List of US-Taiwan Relations”. In the updated content, the U.S. side deleted the statements in the previous version about “recognizing Taiwan as part of China” and “the U.S. does not support Taiwan independence”. Some analysts believe that the U.S. move violates its previous solemn commitments on the Taiwan issue. How did the spokesperson respond to this?
Zhao Lijian responded that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China. This is the general consensus of the international community and the recognized norm of international relations.
Zhao Lijian said that history cannot be tampered with, facts cannot be denied, and right and wrong cannot be distorted. The US made solemn commitments on the Taiwan issue and the one-China principle in the three Sino-US joint communiques. Now the US is revising the “fact list of US-Taiwan relations”, which is a small move to hollow out the one-China principle. This kind of political manipulation on the Taiwan issue and trying to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait will surely set fire to fire. The US should abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiqués, abide by the political commitments it made to China on the Taiwan issue, implement President Biden’s statement that the US does not support “Taiwan independence”, and stop making excuses for Taiwan-related issues. Engage in political manipulation, engage in Taiwan to control China.
Figure: The U.S. State Department website updates the FactSheet of the current state of U.S.-Taiwan relations. (Retrieved from the website of the U.S. State Department)