The Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China issued an official statement concerning the question of Taiwan this afternoon. On the basis of that statement, I’d like to emphasize the following position.
今天下午，中华人民共和国外交部就台湾问题发表了正式声明。在此声明基础上，我想再强调以下立场：
We strongly condemn the visit by US House Speaker Pelosi to China’s Taiwan region. Her insistence on this visit in disregard of the opposition from China seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and seriously undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose such highly irresponsible, provocative and dangerous act.
There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory. The one-China principle is the centerpiece of the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués, and the premise and foundation for the establishment and development of China-US relations.
In 1979, the US made a clear commitment in the Sino-US Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations that the United States recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and the United States will only maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. Pelosi is the incumbent US House Speaker and ranks second in the US presidential line of succession. Her visit to Taiwan, in what ever form, under whatever pretext and at whatever time during her tenure, is a serious violation of the one-China policy as committed by the US Government, and a major political provocation of upgrading the official contact between the US and Taiwan. It is absolutely unacceptable.
The Taiwan Strait is now facing a new round of tension and serious challenges. The fundamental reason lies in the repeated provocation from the Taiwan authorities and the US side. The US side betrayed its word and broke its commitment, distorted, obscured and hollowed out the one-China policy, raised tension in the Taiwan Strait and emboldened the arrogance of the “Taiwan independence” forces. This is a highly dangerous trick like “ playing with fire”, and those playing with fire will get burnt.
The position of the Chinese Government and people on the Taiwan question has always been clear-cut and consistent. To resolutely safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country represents the unbending will of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. To realise the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration and sacred obligation of all Chinese sons and daughters. The will of the people is not to be defied. The Chinese side will take resolute and forceful measures to uphold China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. All the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the US side and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. No other country, the United States included, has the right to interfere. We urge the US side to stop playing the “Taiwan card” against China, stop meddling in Taiwan affairs and China’s internal affairs. We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions in the three Sino-US joint communiqués with concrete actions, deliver the “five noes” commitment made by the US President and refrain from going any further down the wrong and dangerous path.
We hope that the other countries will recognize the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan question, honour their commitment to the one-China principle, exercise prudence in words and actions relating to the Taiwan question, and not be led astray by or dance to the tune of the United States, so as to maintain sound and steady development of the bilateral relations with China.