BEIJING—China on Monday said it was “firmly opposed” to all official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, as the self-ruled island’s president-elect Lai Ching-te welcomed an American delegation following his election victory.
“China has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and resolutely rebutted the United States for interfering in Taiwan’s affairs in any way and under any pretext,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference.
China regards democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day bring it under its control, by force if necessary.
It does not keep diplomatic relations with countries that formally recognize Taiwan as an independent state.
Washington has maintained that the delegation to Taipei is unofficial and part of standard protocol.
The group includes a former US national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state, and was led by the chair of the American Institute of Taiwan—the de facto US embassy for the island.
“We urge the US to recognize the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, earnestly abide by the one-China principle… and reaffirm US leaders’ repeated statements that it does not support Taiwan independence, ‘two Chinas,’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’,” Mao said.
Washington should “follow through on its commitments on Taiwan, not seek to use the Taiwan issue as a tool to contain China… and not send any wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces,” she added.
Voters in Taiwan handed Lai, the independence-leaning leader of the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party, a comfortable election victory.
Mao said Monday the poll was “a local affair of China.”
Earlier on, Lai Ching-te on Monday hailed the island’s “solid partnership” with the United States, as he welcomed a delegation from Washington making a post-election visit expected to anger Beijing.
The unofficial delegation was sent by US President Joe Biden’s administration to meet senior politicians including current President Tsai Ing-wen and Lai, who won Saturday’s poll.
Voters on the self-ruled island defied Beijing’s repeated calls not to elect Lai, whom it condemned as a dangerous separatist who would take Taiwan down the “evil path” of independence.
Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory and has never renounced force to bring it under its control, insisted that the vote did not change the fact the island was part of China.
Lai said Monday that freedom and democracy “are the most valuable assets for the Taiwanese people, and the sacred mountains to protect Taiwan” during his meeting with the delegates at his party’s headquarters.
“They are also the core values Taiwan and the United States share and the foundation for the long-term stability in Taiwan-US partnership,” he said.
“I am grateful for the strong support from the United States for Taiwan’s democracy which demonstrates the close and solid partnership between Taiwan and the United States. It is of great significance to Taiwan.”
Before meeting Lai, the delegation went to the Presidential Office to meet with Tsai, who said their visit highlights the “close and staunch” US-Taiwan partnership.
Communist-ruled China vehemently objects to anything that even suggests official recognition of Taiwan, and the US visit is expected to cause annoyance.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday condemned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for congratulating Lai on his victory.
The delegation consists of a former US national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state, and was led by the chair of the American Institute of Taiwan — the de facto US embassy for the island.
Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, had vowed to defend the island from China’s “intimidation,” and Taipei’s foreign ministry told Beijing to accept the result.
He reiterated to the delegates Monday that under his future administration, “Taiwan will continue to defend peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait under the foundation built by President Tsai Ing-wen.”
Taiwan is not diplomatically recognized by most countries in the world, though the United States is a partner and its top weapons provider.
The last time a US delegation visited immediately after an election was in 2016, after Tsai’s win, to meet her incoming team and the losing candidates.
Since her election, China has cut off all high-level communications with Tsai, as she and her party have defended Taiwan’s sovereignty by saying the island is “already independent.”
Beijing maintains a military presence around Taiwan, sending in warplanes and naval vessels near-daily — which conflict experts call “grey zone” actions that stop short of an outright act of war.
But the saber-rattling has upped worries of possible accidents escalating into full-blown conflict.
Under Tsai’s two-term administration, Taiwan has greatly bolstered its defense resources — buying fighter jets and building its own submarine — as a form of deterrence against increasingly bellicose threats from China.
Her deputy Lai has vowed to follow the same policy path.
