US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi honked Taiwan on the phone on November 12, just three days before the two leaders held a virtual meeting.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “The Secretary emphasized the United States’ long-standing interest in peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait and expressed concern about China’s continued military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan. I did. ” According to the statement..
“He urged Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the cross-strait issue peacefully and in a way that is in line with the hopes and best interests of the Taiwanese people,” Price added. rice field.
China recently conducted a military exercise near Taiwan, flying a military aircraft into the island’s air defense identification zone and banning the import of certain Taiwanese fruits.
China’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement in strong words about the phone. The king said he had taken a “solemn position” against what China regarded as “wrong words and deeds” expressed by the United States.
According to a Chinese statement, the king also insisted on Blinken that the United States should “clearly and firmly oppose the” Taiwan independence “movement,” and in doing so “protect peace” in the region.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to occupy the autonomous islands with military force as needed. As a result, the Communist government has made the Taiwanese government a formal independent state, including seeking formal relations with other countries, holding official consultations with foreign government officials, and wishing to participate in international organizations. I often criticize them for trying to change.
Officially known as the Republic of China, Taiwan is a de facto independent country with its own democratically elected government, army, constitution and currency.
Taiwan’s current President Tsai Ing-wen made a frank comment on Taiwan’s sovereignty in an interview with the BBC in 2020. Chinese. “
The Taiwanese have overwhelmingly rejected the possibility of being dominated by the Chinese administration. According to a recent poll (pdf) Less than 8% of Taiwan’s National Chengchi University supports gradual or immediate unification with China, and more than 55% want to maintain Taiwan’s status quo for now or permanently.
Currently, Beijing’s diplomatic ally, but not Taipei, is providing Taiwan with military equipment for self-defense.
In addition, the United States has a “one-China policy” that there is only one sovereign state named “one-China”, but it is different from the “one-China principle” that the Chinese administration claims sovereignty. .. Taiwan.
The day after the King and Blinken talked, the Chinese administration openly demanded that the United States accept the “One China Principle.” China’s Ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, made a request while speaking remotely at a conference held by the US-based alliance for peaceful unification of China.
Qin also accused the United States of increasing tensions throughout the Taiwan Strait.
In addition to Taiwan, Blinken and Wang also talked about preparing for a virtual talk between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. According to Price, the conference “provides an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss how to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and China while working together in areas of equal interest.”
The two leaders spoke on the phone twice this year, but haven’t met in person since Biden took office in January.
“The Secretary also emphasized the importance of taking steps to ensure that global energy supply and price fluctuations do not impede the recovery of the global economy,” Price said.
A Chinese statement also said Blinken and Wang were talking about climate change and Iran’s nuclear issue.
On Sunday, Taiwan’s diplomatic ministry thanked Blinken in a Twitter post, “expressing concern over China’s continued military, diplomatic and economic pressure.”
follow
Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based journalist. He covers news in China and Taiwan. He holds a master’s degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan.
More articles from this author