China confirmed that it conveyed clear messages to the US administration on the Taiwan file during US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, stressing its adherence to its "red lines" on the Taiwan issue.
Chinese positions came in a statement by Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, May 17, following talks with Trump during his visit to China between May 13 and 15, where Wang explained that Chinese President Xi Jinping spent about 9 hours in direct talks with Trump, which dealt with bilateral relations and issues related to peace and development at the global level.
Regarding Taiwan, Wang stressed that "reunification" represents the Chinese nation's aspiration and a historic mission for the Chinese Communist Party, stressing that this issue is an essential part of the international order formed after World War II.
The Chinese official warned that any "inappropriate" handling of the issue could lead to serious tension in relations between Beijing and Washington and possibly to a "conflict."
The Chinese foreign minister called on the United States to adhere to the one-China principle and the joint statements that form the political basis of bilateral relations, stressing that respect for these principles is the basic guarantee for the stability of bilateral relations.
Taiwan: Independence is a reality No advertisement
Taiwan stressed in a statement from its Foreign Ministry on Saturday (May 16) that it is "a sovereign and independent democratic country, not subject to the People's Republic of China," adding that "the Chinese military threat remains the main source of insecurity in the region."
Taiwan thanked Trump for his unwavering support for the security of the Taiwan Strait since his first term, noting that close cooperation between Taiwan and the United States has always been a key pillar of stability in the region.
The department stressed that the arms sale to Washington "is not only a U.S. security commitment to Taiwan that is clearly enshrined in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of joint deterrence against regional threats," after Trump said he had not yet made a decision on arms sales to Taipei.
Taiwanese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stressed that US arms sales to Taiwan have always been a cornerstone of peace and stability in the region, which is affirmed by US law.
He told reporters that Taiwan would continue to communicate with the U.S. side and understand its position on what is going on with regard to additional arms sales.
What is the reality of the Taiwan crisis?
The Taiwan crisis is one of the most complex geopolitical files in the world, as historical memory intersects with strategic rivalry and the race for control of advanced technology, and the island has turned into the most dangerous point of contact between China and the United States.
The crisis has its roots in 1949, when the Chinese Civil War ended with the victory of the Communists on the mainland and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, in exchange for the nationalist government taking refuge in Taiwan and retaining the name of the Republic of China. Since then, Beijing has seen the island as an integral part of its territory and insists on "reunification," while Taiwan considers itself a de facto sovereign democracy, with a constitution, military, and elected government.
The United States adopts a policy of "strategic ambiguity" in this regard, as it diplomatically recognizes Beijing, but continues to support and arm Taiwan in accordance with the law of relations with Taiwan, in an attempt to deter China on the one hand, and prevent Taipei from declaring independence on the other, in order to avoid the explosion of a direct military confrontation.
Taiwan is the beating heart of the TSMC semiconductor industry, making its control vital to the global economy and military industries, as well as its location within the "First Island Chain" that forms the U.S. defense line in the Pacific Ocean, and China's control of it means breaking the U.S. naval enclosure, while remaining an ally of Washington limits Beijing's expansion.