“The Taiwan issue is the biggest tinderbox between China and the United States”: Chinese ambassador
China and the United States could end up in a “military conflict” if the United States encourages Taiwan’s independence, Beijing’s ambassador to Washington Qin Gang has warned.
China’s ambassador to the United States in a rare interview with NPR said that The U.S. could face “military conflict” with China over the future status of Taiwan if the Taiwanese authorities “keep going down the road for independence” with the backing of the U.S.
“If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict,” he said.
“The Taiwan issue is the biggest tinderbox between China and the United States. If, you know the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, you know, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in the military conflict.”
China considers the democratically ruled island of Taiwan its “sacred” territory and has never renounced the use of force to ensure eventual unification.
“People on both sides of Taiwan Straits are Chinese, so we are compatriots. So the last thing we should do is to fight with compatriots. And we will do our utmost in the greatest sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification. … But … that Taiwanese authority is working down the road towards independence, emboldened by the United States. So China will not commit to giving up the un-peaceful means for reunification because this is a deterrence.”
Washington does not have officially recognize Taiwan but maintains unofficial relations which includes strong trade ties and sales of weapons to Taiwan. The US and some of its allies have recently advocated for Taiwan’s “meaningful participation in the UN system” which angered China.
