Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen, right, talks to Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, center. (Photo/ Agencies)
China has criticized a visit by a US
delegation
to
Taiwan
, calling it interference. The chairman of the House of Representatives committee on China and four other lawmakers recently visited the self-ruled island.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that China strongly opposes any official exchange between the US and Taiwan authorities, as well as any US interference in Taiwan affairs.
The statement was made during a regular press conference.
“We urge the United States to recognise the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue,” Mao said, urging the US to adhere to the “
one-China principle
” and stop official exchanges with Taiwan.
US lawmaker Mike Gallagher led a delegation that met with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen and vice president Lai Ching-te, who recently won the presidential election.
Gallagher expressed gratitude to Tsai, who is nearing the end of her second and final term, for her leadership in Taiwan and for distinguishing herself “as a leader within the free world.”
The US, like other countries, does not officially recognize Taiwan as a country. However, it maintains strong unofficial relations and is obligated by its own laws to provide the necessary weapons for Taiwan’s defence.
A visit by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan two years ago resulted in China sending warships, and military aircraft, and firing ballistic missiles near the self-governing island democracy.
