China tells US it will ‘never compromise’ on Taiwan
China, in its initial military discussions with the US in 2021, declared its unwavering stance on the Taiwan issue, emphasizing its refusal to compromise.
The nation called upon the US to cease providing military assistance to Taiwan and to address its concerns seriously. This development occurs just ahead of crucial elections in Taiwan, potentially influencing the island’s alignment with or divergence from Beijing.
While China asserts Taiwan as part of its territory, the island maintains its distinct identity from the Chinese mainland.
The defense ministry’s statement conveyed China’s willingness to cultivate a healthy and stable military relationship with the United States founded on equality and respect.
It underscored the imperative for the US to acknowledge China’s concerns, asserting that there would be no concessions or compromises on the Taiwan matter.
China insisted that the US adhere to the one-China principle, uphold relevant commitments, refrain from arming Taiwan, and abstain from supporting Taiwan’s pursuit of independence.
Taiwan represents a critical focal point in the power struggle between China and the US for dominance in the Asian region.
Notably, China suspended talks in 2022 as a protest against the visit of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August of the same year.
The resumption of talks this week follows an agreement reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden during their November meeting.
The two-day discussions concluded in Washington on Tuesday. In a separate development, Taiwan clarified that it does not perceive the launch of a Chinese satellite over its southern airspace on Tuesday as an act of election interference.
A satellite launch on Tuesday afternoon prompted an islandwide air raid alert. Mobile phone users across the self-ruled island received a message warning them to “be aware for your safety”.
Taiwan’s defense ministry later apologized for its inaccurate reference to a missile in the alert sent to mobile phones.
“After the national security team has analyzed the overall relevant information and taken into account the evaluation of the information of various international allies, political attempts can be ruled out,” said Lin Yu-chan, a spokesman of Taiwan’s presidential office.
Chinese state media said the satellite, named the Einstein Probe, is used to “observe mysterious transient phenomena”.
The island’s main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) criticized the “arbitrary” use of an islandwide alert as fear-mongering.
