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China tells US to stop building relationship with Taiwan after economic dialogue announcement
- US announces discussions on technology industry as Taiwanese president says she will lift ban on American beef and pork imports
- But Beijing tells Washington to stop ‘official interaction in all forms’ and accuses it of violating the one-China principle
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Beijing on Tuesday asked the US to stop upgrading its unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan, after Washington’s announcement of a new economic dialogue with Taiwan.
“We called on the US to ... stop official interaction with Taiwan in all forms,” said Hua Chunying, spokeswoman of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Hua described the US Taiwan Relations Act, which allows for de facto diplomatic relations, as “illegal” and “invalid”, adding that it violates the one-China principle.
On Monday, US assistant secretary of state David Stilwell said that the United States and Taiwan would establish a new economic dialogue focused on semiconductors, health care, energy and other technology sectors.
He added that while the US was updating its engagement with Taiwan, its actions were “still well within the boundaries of our one-China policy” and did not take a position on Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Lawrence Chung covers major news in Taiwan, ranging from presidential and parliament elections to killer earthquakes and typhoons. Most of his reports focus on Taiwan’s relations with China, specifically on the impact and possible developments of cross-strait relations under the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and mainland-friendly Kuomintang governments. Before starting work at the South China Morning Post in 2006, he wrote for Reuters and AFP for more than 12 years.
Jun Mai has covered Chinese politics, diplomacy and general breaking news for over a decade. Before his current posting in Beijing, he was based in Hong Kong. He has also completed a stint in Washington.
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