China protests visit of US officials to Taiwan

Beijing, May 31 (Prensa Latina) China expressed strong protest and launched aerial exercises near Taiwan in response to a surprise visit by US Senator Tammy Duckworth to Taiwan, which China considers an inalienable part of its territory.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the lawmaker’s trip violates the One China principle and the political foundations of bilateral ties.

He demanded that Washington respect the consensus with Beijing, cut off immediately any official contact with Taipei and stop sending false signals to Taiwan’s separatist forces.

He also warned that “China will continue to take measures in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Apart from the statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry, the People’s Liberation Army reacted to Duckworth’s visit to Taiwan by deploying 30 warplanes in the vicinity of Taiwan, effective until tomorrow.

The international community approved with 170 votes a resolution in 1971 recognizing Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China and considers the latter the only legitimate representative before the United Nations.

Aiming at moving towards the complete reunification of the national territory, Beijing also defends the policy of One country, two systems, applied in the administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. However, Taipei’s leaders refuse to accept the status.