Question: Why is it that the root cause of tensions in the Taiwan Strait is the US and the Taiwan authorities colluding together?

Embassy Spokesperson: The fundamental cause of the new round of tensions in the Taiwan Strait is the Taiwan authorities’ repeated attempt to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence” and the fact that some in the US intend to use Taiwan to contain China. 

Over the past 40 years or so, the US has failed to faithfully implement the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three China-US joint communiqués. The US has significantly eased constraints on official exchanges with Taiwan, and the level and frequency of exchanges between the two sides have greatly increased. This is a breach of its commitment to having unofficial relations with Taiwan only. There have been more frequent open military interactions between the US and Taiwan, and the size and performance of arms sold by the US to Taiwan have kept increasing. This is a breach of its commitment to gradually reducing its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution. The US has helped Taiwan to expand its so-called “international space”, even jumping into the front stage to help Taiwan consolidate its so-called diplomatic ties. This is a breach of its commitment that it has no intention of pursuing a policy of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”. 

In recent years, the US has doubled down on efforts to mislead the public in order to hollow out the one-China principle. Tsai Ing-wen’s “transit” was essentially the result of the US conniving at “Taiwan independence” separatists’ political activities in the United States, conducting official contact with Taiwan and upgrading the substantive relations with Taiwan. This seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. The goal of the US is to obstruct China’s peaceful reunification by using the Taiwan question, undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and use Taiwan to contain China.

It has to be pointed out that no matter how hard those in the US and Taiwan try in their collusion, their moves will constitute no more than a few noises in the reunification process of China. China’s reunification is an unstoppable historical trend that will not be changed by anyone, any force or any country.  

We urge the US side to fully grasp the high degree of sensitivity of the Taiwan question and stop “playing the Taiwan card”. The US needs to handle Taiwan-related issues cautiously and appropriately, avoid sending wrong signals to separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”, stop any forms of official exchanges and engagement with the Taiwan region, and refrain from upgrading substantive relations with Taiwan, so as to prevent serious damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.