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Chinese MFA insists US cut off military contact with Taiwan to avoid escalating tensions

According to Wang Wenbin, Washington needs to respect the One China principle and Chinese-US agreements

BEIJING, February 17. /TASS/. The Pentagon should cut off military contact with Taiwan in order to prevent another escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a briefing on Friday.

"We insist that the United States <...> put an end to official interaction with Taiwan, cut off all forms of military contact, stop interfering in the Taiwan issue and creating factors leading to another escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait," he pointed out, commenting on US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase’s possible visit to Taipei.

According to Wang Wenbin, Washington needs to respect the One China principle and Chinese-US agreements. "We strongly oppose official contact between the United States and Taiwan. China’s position on the matter is clear and consistent," the diplomat emphasized.

The Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing sources, that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Michael Chase would visit Taiwan in the coming days. It would be the first trip to Taiwan by a high-ranking Pentagon official in the past four years. In 2019, then US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Heino Klinck made a visit to Taipei.

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 suffering a defeat 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.

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