BEIJING, January 11. /TASS/. China expresses dissatisfaction with statements by US officials regarding the elections in Taiwan and calls on the United States to diligently observe the One China principle, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has told a news briefing.
"The elections in Taiwan are China's internal affair and admit of no external interference. The United States openly makes irresponsible remarks regarding the elections on the island, which China strongly rejects and in connection with them it expresses extreme dissatisfaction," Mao said.
She urged Washington to approach the observance of the One China principle and the provisions of the three joint Sino-US communiques with a sense of responsibility and "to stop interfering in any way in the elections on the island of Taiwan and to stop separatist mechanisms aimed at achieving 'Taiwan independence.'"
Earlier, a senior Washington administration official said in a special telephone briefing concerning the election of Taiwan’s chief executive that Washington was preparing for mainland China’s reaction that might allegedly follow the Taiwanese elections.
Taiwan has been ruled by its own administration since 1949, when remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled there after being defeated in China's civil war. Beijing considers Taiwan to be one of China’s provinces. Elections of Taiwan's chief executive and members of the Legislative Yuan (the island's highest unicameral legislature) will be held on January 13. Since 2016, the post of the island's chief executive has been held by Tsai Ing-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party. Her second and final term expires in 2024.