Senior Chinese military officials have told their American counterparts that China will “never make the slightest compromise” on the Taiwan issue, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The statements were made during bilateral military talks in Washington, days before Taiwan's presidential election this weekend. The island's politics are at the heart of tensions between China and the United States.
“On the Taiwan issue, China will never make the slightest compromise or concession,” the Chinese military delegation said during bilateral talks, according to a statement from the ministry.
“It requires that the United States respect the principle of one China, concretely respect its promise by ceasing to arm Taiwan and opposing any independence for Taiwan,” he said. He emphasizes.
While the United States recognizes the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese government, it is also the main military supporter of the island's authorities (officially “the Republic of China”), angering Beijing.
China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces that has not yet succeeded in reunification with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
She says she supports a “peaceful” reunification with the island, where the roughly 23 million residents are governed by a democratic system. However, it has never renounced the use of military force.
Taiwanese residents will vote on Saturday to choose their next president, an election closely watched by Beijing and Washington. Taiwan is one of their biggest points of friction.
China has also called on the United States to stop its “provocative actions” in the disputed South China Sea, where the two powers conducted parallel military exercises last week.
Chinese warships conducted exercises in the South China Sea on Thursday, while the Philippines trained with the US military in disputed waters after a series of incidents with Beijing.
“China urges the United States to reduce its military presence and provocative actions in the South China Sea,” senior Chinese military officials told their American counterparts, according to China's Defense Ministry.