BEIJING, April 15. /TASS/. Chinese authorities intend to ensure the unity of mainland China and Taiwan at all costs, regardless of US statements, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Friday.
"The Taiwan problem is the number one issue of our country's domestic policy. China should and definitely will be unified, we are ready to take the utmost measures for a peaceful unification with Taiwan," he said at a briefing replying to a question by TASS as to how Beijing assesses Washington's recent statement on the unacceptability of the reunification of Taiwan and mainland China by force.
The spokesman also reiterated that earlier, China's People's Liberation Army expressed its firm stance on the inadmissibility of Washington's interference in China's domestic affairs. He stressed that the Chinese authorities intend to severely intercept attempts by Taiwanese separatists to disassociate from mainland China.
"On the issue of Taiwan, the US should observe the ‘One China’ principle. <…> The United States is obligated to stop maintaining official contacts with Taiwan and refuse to conduct joint military drills with them, as well as stop selling weapons to Taipei," the diplomat concluded. He emphasized that Beijing is demanding from Washington to comply with its obligations under bilateral agreements.
As US Presidential National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said earlier, the US authorities will do everything to prevent the reunification of Taiwan and mainland China by force.
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. This causes protest of mainland China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and resolutely warns against any separatist aspirations.