China on Tuesday called on India to approach ties with Taiwan “in a prudent and appropriate manner” and said it would “strongly oppose” any official exchanges between New Delhi and Taipei.
Read also: Posters calling for the withdrawal of Taiwan after the complaint from the Chinese embassy
The statement from China’s Foreign Ministry came in response to reports that India and Taiwan were considering going ahead with talks on a trade deal. India and Taiwan in 2018 already signed a bilateral investment agreement. Trade relations between India and Taiwan have since expanded and Taiwanese companies are prominent investors in India, although India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations.
“The ‘one-China principle’ is a universal consensus of the international community, including India,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a daily briefing when asked about the report. about business talks.
“It is also the political basis for China to develop ties with other countries. Therefore, we strongly oppose any official exchange between countries that have diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan or that sign official documents. The Indian side must remain committed to the ‘one-China principle’ and address Taiwan-related issues in a prudent and proper manner, ”Zhao said.
Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in Delhi proposed to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) the posting of posters in New Delhi on October 10 to wish Taiwan “Happy National Day”, placed by a member of the BJP, even outside the Chinese Embassy. The posters were removed after the complaint.
The posters, along with a social media campaign on October 10, followed a note sent by the Chinese Embassy to some 250 journalists asking them not to refer to Taiwan as a “country” or a “nation” while covering a event that I would organize. the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India.
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The MEA responded to the note saying that “there are free media in India that report on the topics that seem appropriate to them.”
On Tuesday, China reacted cautiously to India’s announcement that Australia will join next month’s Malabar naval exercise with India, Japan and the United States.
In a short statement, Mr. Zhao said, “We have taken note of this development. We always believe that military cooperation between countries should lead to regional peace and stability. “
China’s Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a protest with the United States over a meeting in Washington between Undersecretary Robert Destro of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, who has been appointed as the special coordinator for Tibetan affairs, with Lobsang Sangay, head of the “Government in exile” in Dharamsala.
“The appointment of the so-called special coordinator for Tibetan affairs is a political move to interfere in China’s internal affairs and sabotage the Xizang government. [Tibet’s] stability, ”said Mr. Zhao.
“We have presented severe representations to the US side. The so-called Tibetan government in exile is a separatist political organization pursuing a wild dream of Tibetan independence. It violates the Constitution and the law of China and is not recognized by any nation in the world. Lobsang Sangay, as head, is an anti-China separatist. China firmly opposes your participation in anti-China separatist activities in any status and under any pretext in any country. We strongly oppose officials from other countries having any kind of contact with him. We urge the US side to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and sabotage the development and stability of Xizang, and refrain from offering support to the separatist forces. China will take all measures to safeguard its own interests, ”the spokesman said.
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