China urged the U.S. to end all official contact with Taiwan

The U.S. should stop any form of official contact with Taiwan and stop sending false signals to the forces advocating the island’s independence. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this at a briefing Thursday, commenting on information that U.S. and Taiwan officials intend to hold a series of consultations aimed at strengthening economic ties.

“China has always been strongly opposed to any official contacts between Taiwan and countries that have established diplomatic relations with the PRC. Recently, the United States has often taken action on the Taiwan issue, whether it be a visit by an official or a trade dialogue. “In reality, all of this violates the ‘one China’ principle, supports and incites separatist forces advocating Taiwan independence, and disrupts peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Zhao Lijian said.

“The U.S. should strictly abide by the One China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués, stop any official contact with Taiwan, stop discussing or signing agreements with Taiwan that are official in nature, and stop sending any false signals to the separatist pro-Taiwan independence forces,” Zhao Lijian pointed out. He also stressed that the U.S. persistent efforts to play the Taiwan card will put Sino-U.S. relations in a dangerous situation.

According to a statement released Wednesday by the Office of the U.S. Trade Negotiator Catherine Tai, U.S. authorities and representatives of the Taiwan administration intend to hold a series of consultations aimed at strengthening economic ties, developing trade and promoting innovation. According to the document, earlier on Wednesday, the two sides held an online meeting organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (de facto U.S. Embassy) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in the United States. They agreed to launch the U.S.-Taiwan Trade Initiative for the 21st Century, aimed at developing concrete ways to deepen economic and trade relations, promoting joint priority goals, and fostering innovation and inclusive economic growth. The first meeting of the initiative is expected to take place later this month in Washington.