Prof. ST Hsieh
Director, US-China Energy Industry Forum
626-376-7460
2022-04-07 23:00
On April 6, 2022, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng met with new Ambassador of the United States to China Nicholas Burns. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.
Ambassador Burns presented the copy of credentials to the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry on April 2.
Routine News Conference in Beijing.
Bloomberg: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi apparently plans to visit Taiwan on Sunday after her trip to Japan. This will be the first visit to Taiwan by a holder of the Speaker’s office in 25 years. Does the foreign ministry have a comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China resolutely opposes all forms of official contact between the US and Taiwan. Congress is a branch of the US government and should stringently abide by the one-China policy that the US upholds. If Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan, this would gravely violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US Joint Communiqués, seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, severely impact the political foundation of China-US relations and send a seriously wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China firmly opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with the US side.
The US should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, immediately cancel Speaker Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan, stop official contact with Taiwan, and fulfill its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” with real actions. If the US insists on having its own way, China will take firm and strong measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the US side.
Reuters: You just said that if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, China will respond with strong measures. What kind of strong measures will China respond with?
Zhao Lijian: I just made my point very clear. If this visit is made, China will take firm and strong measures in response. The ensuing consequences will be completely borne by the US.