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AP
Taiwan has been among the success stories in the battle against the coronavirus.
China has largely criticized New Zealand’s support for Taiwan joining the World Health Organization, saying that “wrong comments” could damage relations between countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lihan said at a press conference on Monday that China “deplores and opposes” New Zealand’s position, and “no one should harbor any illusions when it comes to matters related to interests central China. “
“We hope that certain people in New Zealand will stop spreading rumors and create problems and work to improve rather than undermine bilateral mutual trust and cooperation,” Lihan said.
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Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand supports an effort to get Taiwan to join the WHO as an observer.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday that Taiwan had been “an outstanding global success story at Covid-19,” and that New Zealand had joined others in calling for the island nation to be added to the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer.
Supporting construction for Taiwan to join the WHO has angered China, which strongly believes that Taiwan lacks sovereignty and is part of China’s territory.
Beijing rejects diplomatic relations with countries that consider Taiwan as a sovereign nation, part of a strategy called “one-China policy”.
Lihan said Monday that the one-China policy “must be observed,” and said Taiwan was using the outbreak to seek independence.
“The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-New Zealand relations … China urges New Zealand to strictly abide by the one-China principle and immediately stop its wrongful actions on Taiwan-related issues to avoid damaging relations bilateral “.
Lihan appeared to contradict a claim by Peters that talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had given him confidence that there would be no backsliding.
“I wonder how he came to that assumption. I want to point out that China is committed to developing friendly cooperative relations with New Zealand based on mutual respect and equality. But we are firmly determined to defend our sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told TVNZ New Zealand’s support for Taiwan to join the WHO as an observer, “New Zealand’s position on a one-China policy does not change.”
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said diplomatic war of words would not harm bilateral relations.
“There is a place for Taiwan as an observer, they have a lot to offer for their experience with Covid-19,” he said.
