Mainland issues stern rebuke to US on Taiwan question

Beijing on Monday urged Washington to take its positions and concerns seriously and tread carefully on the Taiwan question to avoid damaging bilateral relations after Washington said China is "taking actions that undermine peace and stability" across the Straits.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing, refuting White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's statement on Friday the US position on Taiwan was rooted in "the one-China policy, the Taiwan Relations Act, the three communiques."

China's position on Taiwan is consistent and clear, Zhao said.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it, he said, adding it is an undeniable historical and legal fact which brooks no challenge.

"The root source of the tension across the Straits lies in the fact the Democratic Progressive Party authority in Taiwan refuses to acknowledge the 1992 consensus which embodies the one-China principle," he said, which according to him is also a real move to change the status quo.

Some forces in the US seek to use Taiwan to contain China, which emboldens "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and intensifies tensions across the Straits, he added.

Calling it "null and void," Zhao criticized US for "unilaterally concocting" the Taiwan Relations Act, which puts its domestic laws above international law and violates norms governing international relations.

He urged the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, which are political foundations of establishing diplomatic relations as well as sound and steady development of relations between the two countries.

Zhao stressed China's reunification is an unstoppable historical trend and will not be changed by any people, force or country while urging Washington to stop developing official relations with Taiwan and refrain from sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.