China warns US of ‘resolute counterattack’ over Pompeo’s Taiwan remarks

China has warned of “resolute counterattack” measures, if the United States undermines Beijing’s core interests, amid a major escalation of tensions over Washington’s recent arms sales to Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said on Friday that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made controversial remarks about China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

Pompeo said on Thursday that Taiwan “has not been a part of China.”

Wang said on Friday, “We solemnly tell Pompeo and his ilk, that any behavior that undermines China’s core interests and interferes with China’s domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack by China.”

Taiwan foreign ministry spokeswoman, Joanne Ou, however, thanked Pompeo for his support.

“The Republic of China on Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country, and not part of the People’s Republic of China. This is a fact and the current situation,” she said.

China maintains sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, and under the “One China” policy, nearly all countries worldwide — including the US — recognize that sovereignty.

China calls on US to halt expansion of ties with Taiwan

China calls on the United States to halt its expansion of ties with Taiwan, after Washington and Taipei declared they would hold economic talks later this month.

Washington, however, has been courting Taiwan in an attempt to irk Beijing. It regularly conducts provocative moves around the self-governed island, particularly by sailing its warships through the sensitive and strategic Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from mainland China.

Taiwan officials will travel to Washington next week for economic talks, which have angered Beijing.

In another move that has already annoyed China, the Pentagon announced last week that the US State Department had cleared the potential sale of four MQ-9 SeaGuardian drones — worth 600 million dollars — to Taiwan in a formal notification to Congress.

Tensions between the US and China remain at their highest point in decades, with sharp divisions over a host of political and economic issues, including Hong Kong the coronavirus pandemic and a long-time trade dispute that is not expected to be resolved soon.

'China-US trade frictions won't be going away under Biden'

In the meantime, a former Chinese diplomat says the United States will continue it suppression of China, even under the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Former Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei said on Friday that trade frictions between Washington and Beijing are not expected to ease in the near term.

“Even if Biden is elected, the US suppression of China will be inevitable,” he said.

Lou, who is now a member of a consultative body to the Chinese parliament, called for pragmatism in US-China trade relations.

“After four years, the trade deficit (with China) is still widening,” he said. “We need to return to common sense and return to science. Everyone needs to be reasonable.”

Since taking office, outgoing President Donald Trump claimed that China’s rise as an exporting powerhouse has hurt US workers and manufacturing.

He finally launched a trade war in the middle of 2018, demanding that China undertake sweeping structural reforms to open its markets and buy more from the United States.

Ever since, the two world powers have engaged in a full-fledged trade war that has for some time affected the world economy. 

Biden reassures US allies in calls with leaders of Japan, S.Korea, Australia

The leaders of Japan, South Korea and Australia have reaffirmed plans to form close ties with Joe Biden to tackle issues including climate change and regional security.

In his first call to the three key Asian allies of Washington —  Australia, Japan and South Korea — Biden assured them of US commitment to their defense.

Ths leaders of the three nations each offered their congratulations to the president-elect on Wednesday.

China finally congratulates Biden

More than a week after US presidential election China finally offered its congratulations to Bdien.

“We respect the choice of the American people. We express our congratulations to Mr Biden and Ms Harris," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, referring to incoming vice president Kamala Harris.

Wang said China understands "the result of the US election will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures.”

Beijing’s delay in calling Biden doesn’t indicate favoritism for Trump, though, according to analysts China doesn’t want to take sides in the dispute.

The leaders of Russia, Brazil, Mexico, and North Korea have yet to congratulate Biden.

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