FM: Taiwan question China's internal affair

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday that resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people and no other country has the right to interfere in it.

He made the remark as he answered questions at a press conference during the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Qin said the United States has "unshakeable responsibility" for causing the Taiwan question and the reason why China raises this question to the US is to urge it to stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

Noting that separatism to achieve "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, the foreign minister warned that the "mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of the China-US relations."

While China will continue to work with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts to pursue peaceful reunification, it reserves the option of taking all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

"If the US truly expects a peaceful Taiwan Strait, it should stop containing China by exploiting the Taiwan question, return to the fundamentals of the one-China principle, honor its political commitments to China and unequivocally oppose and forestall 'Taiwan independence'," Qin added.