Photo: Wikipedia/embassy of the PRC in Washingtonu
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the United States said Monday that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end that would bring only disaster to the people of the Taiwan region and that any attempt to justify separatist moves under the pretext of "democracy" is doomed to failure.
In an article published in USA Today on January 14 and in an interview with the Associated Press on January 18, a representative of the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States" emphasized the "democracy versus authoritarianism" rhetoric advocating the maintenance of the "status quo" across the Strait and asserted that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its security and economic ties with the United States.
"These remarks are misleading and distort the truth," a Chinese embassy spokesman said in a statement. "The Taiwan issue has nothing to do with democracy, but concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
When it comes to "democracy", the "sincere desire and firm will" of 1.4 billion Chinese for national unification is the truest and greatest democracy, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that by using "democracy" as a pretext, the forces of "Taiwan independence" are trying to stir up confrontation and antagonism throughout the Taiwan Strait, justify their provocative steps in promoting separatism, and conceal their hidden intention of dividing the country.
"However, such attempts are doomed to failure," the statement said.
Referring to the Foreign Ministry's comment on the January 13 election result in Taiwan, the spokesman said the result cannot change the dynamics and direction of cross-Strait relations.
Nor can it slow the prevailing trend that China wants and needs to achieve unification, the spokesman added.
Regarding the status quo of the Taiwan issue, the spokesman said there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legal government representing all of China.
The spokesman further noted that Taiwan's return to China is part of the post-World War II international order, and the one-China principle is the universally accepted basic norm governing international relations with China and the prevailing international consensus.
"The facts have shown that the forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and the external forces that collude with them are the main causes of cross-Strait tensions in recent years and a major threat to cross-Strait peace and stability," the spokesman said.
The statement also said that whoever promotes "Taiwan independence" and splits Chinese territory will surely be judged harshly by history and law, and whoever opposes the one-China principle, interferes in China's internal affairs and violates its sovereignty will surely be opposed by the Chinese people and the international community.
No one should "underestimate the determination, resolve and ability of the Chinese people to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity", the statement added.
chinadaily.com.cn/gnews.cz-JaV_07_07
http://eng.taiwan.cn/cross_strait_exchanges/202401/t20240125_12595955.htm
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