China asks US to stop official exchanges with Taiwan under guise of trade

China has slammed the United States for having plans to reach a trade deal with Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), warning Washington against making any official interaction with the self-ruled island.

"China strongly opposes official interaction of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China. That includes negotiating or signing any agreement of sovereign implication or official nature," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a regular press conference on Thursday. 

Washington and Taipei reached an agreement last month on the first stage of a bilateral trade initiative, titled the US-Taiwan Initiative of 21st-Century Trade, less than a year after negotiations began.

It will be the first official trade agreement between the two sides since American President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021.

According to Taipei, the so-called trade deal is due to be signed on Thursday by employees of the unofficial entities that represent Washington and Taipei to each other at a ceremony attended by American and Taiwanese trade officials.

The treaty is claimed to cover customs and trade facilitation, regulatory practices, and small business.

China warns US over trade ties with Taiwan after agreement reached

China firmly opposes the trade agreement reached between Taiwan and the US.

China has sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei, and under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The US, too, recognizes the Chinese sovereignty over the island but has long courted Taipei in an attempt to unnerve Beijing.

Furthermore, Washington, which backs Taipei’s secessionist president, also infuriates Beijing by selling weapons to the self-governed island in violation of its own official policy.

The Chinese government strongly opposes other countries pursuing official and diplomatic ties with the Chinese Taipei and has consistently warned the US and other states against engaging with the self-proclaimed government in Taipei.

"The US’s move gravely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and contravenes the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan," Mao further said, stressing that China has frequently made solemn démarches to the US.

"The US needs to stop official interaction of any form with Taiwan, refrain from negotiating or signing any agreement of sovereign implication or official nature with China’s Taiwan region, and stop sending any wrong message to separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence” in the name of economy and trade," emphasized the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

China: 'No force can stand in the way' of reunification with Taiwan

Beijing has reiterated its sovereignty over Taiwan, saying no individual or force can hold China back from achieving the goal of national reunification.

Mao further stressed that all attempts by authorities in Taipei to seek 'independence' through relying on Washington under the pretext of economic and trade cooperation are "doomed to fail."

China has time and again stressed that the self-ruled island is obliged to unite with the mainland, by military force if necessary. 

Despite Beijing's warnings, the US government has continued its attempts to forge strong alliances with regional allies, while countering China's growing clout.

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