BEIJING, January 10. /TASS/. Beijing will never make any concessions on the Taiwan issue and demands that the US adhere to the "One China" principle and stop arming the island, the Chinese side said at the 17th China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks held in Washington on January 8-9.
"The Chinese side emphasized that China will not make any concession or compromise on the Taiwan question and demanded that the US side abide by the one-China principle, honor relevant commitments, stop arming Taiwan, and not support Taiwan independence," the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website.
Beijing also urged Washington to "reduce military presence and provocation in the South China Sea and stop supporting provocative actions by certain country."
Military and technical cooperation between Washington and Taipei concerns Beijing. The US severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 and established them with China. While recognizing the One China policy, Washington continues to maintain contacts with the island and supply it with weapons.
Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the remaining Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in China’s civil war. Since then, Taiwan has preserved the flag and some other symbols of the Republic of China that had existed in mainland China before the Communists came to power. Beijing regards the island as one of its provinces and this position is supported by most countries, including Russia.