BEIJING: China has strongly criticized the United States, labeling it a “disruptor and saboteur” of East Asian cooperation and regional stability, and has lodged a formal protest over remarks made by US Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Taiwan during the East Asia Summit held in Indonesia.
In a statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry, they vehemently rejected the allegations made by the US delegate as “groundless and inconsistent with facts,” stressing that the Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair and should not be subject to foreign interference.
Vice President Harris had addressed the 18-nation summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, emphasizing the importance of respecting “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the East China Sea and South China Sea. She also underscored the significance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Responding to Harris’s remarks, the Chinese Foreign Ministry contended that the primary threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait arises from “separatist activities for ‘Taiwan independence'” and alleged foreign support for these endeavors. They called for a firm stance against Taiwan’s independence to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability.
China Urges US to Adhere to One-China Principle
China further urged the United States to adhere earnestly to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. They also called upon countries outside the region to respect regional efforts aimed at establishing rules and maintaining peace in the South China Sea.
Accusing the US of deliberately diverging from the summit’s theme and “souring the atmosphere for cooperation,” China’s statement argued that such actions contradicted the wishes of the people in the region. They asserted that these actions revealed the US’s role as a “disruptor and saboteur” of East Asian cooperation and regional stability.
The exchange of statements highlights the ongoing tensions between China and the United States over various issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, and broader regional security concerns.
