China urges US to stop supporting 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces

BEIJING -- The United States should stop supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a query about a relevant statement issued by US State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

Hua said Taiwan belongs to China and the United States is in no position to make irresponsible remarks. The relevant remarks by the US side seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques and send an extremely wrong and irresponsible signal.

She said for quite some time, the United States has been making negative moves by selling arms to Taiwan and strengthening official and military ties with Taiwan, including the launch of a $750 million arms sale plan to Taiwan, the landing of US military aircraft in Taiwan and frequent sailing of US warships across the Taiwan Strait.

These provocative moves undermine China-US relations and regional peace and stability. China is firmly opposed to them and has taken necessary countermeasures.

Noting that the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations, Hua said on the Taiwan question, the United States should abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the China-US joint communiques rather than something cooked up by itself unilaterally.

"Taiwan independence" leads nowhere, she said, adding that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush all attempts at "Taiwan independence" and China has firm resolve and will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The United States should correct its mistakes, earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, stop supporting and emboldening separatist forces of 'Taiwan independence', and take concrete actions to safeguard rather than undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Hua said.