China’s ambassador to the United States Qin Gang warned in an interview with National Public Radio on Jan. 27 that continued U.S. backing for Taiwan independence “most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict.”
“People on both sides of Taiwan Straits are Chinese, so we are compatriots. So the last thing we should do is to fight with compatriots,” Qin said. “And we will do our utmost in the greatest sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification. ... But ... that Taiwanese authority is working down the road towards independence, emboldened by the United States. So China will not commit to giving up the un-peaceful means for reunification, because this is a deterrence.”
