China’s Foreign Ministry yesterday delivered a harsh official response to the State Department’s “New Guidelines for U.S. Government Interactions with Taiwan Counterparts,” released on April 9, which have the stated intention of “encourage[ing] U.S. government engagement with Taiwan that reflects our deepening unofficial relationship” with the pro-independence government of Taiwan. Zhao Lijian warned yesterday in no uncertain terms that the guidelines, if implemented, will call into question China’s relationship with the United States:
“The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations.… The so-called guidelines for U.S. government interaction with Taiwan counterparts blatantly encourages U.S. government engagement with Taiwan, which severely violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués and runs counter to the serious political commitment the U.S. has made to China on the Taiwan question.
“The Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests. There is zero room for compromise and not an inch to give. We urge the U.S. side to grasp the situation, earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, refrain from playing with fire, immediately stop official contact with Taiwan in any form, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and avoid sending any wrong signals to the `Taiwan independence’ forces, lest it should shake the foundation of China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
