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December 15, 2016

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Trump鈥檚 remarks 鈥榓 threat to peace鈥

CHINA warned yesterday that any interference with or damage to the “One China” principle would have a serious impact on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, Taiwan said maintaining peace was in everyone’s interest.

On Sunday, US President-elect Donald Trump said the United States did not necessarily have to stick to its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of China, further upsetting a nation already angered by his earlier phone conversation with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen.

An Fengshan, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news conference that the Taiwan issue was about China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Upholding the ‘One China’ principle is the political basis of developing China-US relations, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

“If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy, stable development of China-US relations is out of the question, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be seriously impacted.”

China has repeatedly warned that hard-won peace and stability across the Strait could be affected by any moves toward “independence.”

An said the Chinese mainland would contact or interact with Taiwan only if the island accepts the 1992 Consensus endorsing the “One China” principle. As long as both parties agree on its “core meaning,” cross-Strait exchanges will continue.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said peaceful relations were a mutual responsibility across both sides of the Strait.

“Taiwan has repeatedly stressed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region is in the best interests of all parties,” said spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the US needed to handle the Taiwan issue cautiously to avoid unnecessary interference with ties to China.

“As for the so-called issue of Taiwan being threatened, I think we’ve said many times that we oppose the United States and Taiwan having any form of official contacts or military relations,” he told a news briefing.

An responded to suggestions that the mainland and Taiwan could jointly commemorate China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

The war was fought by all Chinese people, including those from Taiwan, he said.

“Memorial activities held by cross-Strait compatriots will help us remember history and carry forward the national spirit demonstrated during the war.”

Such activities would help both sides oppose behavior that would split national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.


 

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