Beijing reiterates its demand for Washington to adhere to the one-China principle

Beijing (ST) – On Thursday, China renewed its demand for the United States to respect the three joint communiques between the two sides and strictly adhere to the “one China” principle.

Commenting on the 40th anniversary of the August 17, 1982 statement, which is one of the three statements, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was quoted by Xinhua as saying: “The US administration stated in  the August 17 statement that it does not seek to implement a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan. Its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, in terms of quality and quantity, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends to reduce its arms sales gradually to Taiwan until it is over with the passage of time.”

Wang said that this statement, the Shanghai Communique, and the China-US Joint Statement on establishing Diplomatic Relations form the political basis of China-US relations, and their core is the “one China” principle. Noting that despite all this, Washington has greatly reduced the restrictions imposed on official relations with Taiwan, and increased military contacts with the region.

Wang referred to the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which violated US obligations on this issue, stressing that adhering to the “one China” principle is a guarantee of Beijing-Washington relations and stability across the Straits.

In this context, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Zheng Zeguang, called on both Washington and London to deal in their relations with China by showing respect and avoiding confrontation.

Zheng said in the British newspaper The Guardian: “Taiwan has been an inseparable part of the Chinese’ territories since ancient times, and its independence means war with a dead end.”

He stressed out that “Chinese people will, resolutely and at any cost, safeguard their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which explains Beijing’s resolute response after Pelosi’s provocative visit to Taiwan”. Pointing out that the US side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces should bear full responsibility for their mistakes.

Adding: “The right thing for the United States to do is to recognize the one-China principle, the three joint communiques between China and US, stop playing the Taiwan card, cut off any official relations and military cooperation with the island, and stop creating more crises.”

Regarding the diplomatic relations between China and Britain, Zheng explained that these relations began after London’s full and clear recognition that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China and its decision to abolish its official representative office on the island.

Zheng renewed his call on the United States and Britain to follow the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, engage in dialogue, cooperation, and join hands to face common challenges.

Najla Khoury