No room for ambiguity on one-China principle: Chinese vice FM

There is no room for ambiguity or arbitrary interpretation of the one-China principle, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu reiterated on Tuesday, a week after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region.

"This is just a political farce, and a dangerous, malicious provocation," Ma told CGTN during an interview on Tuesday, adding that Pelosi made the visit in disregard of China's warning.

Her visit infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, violated the one-China principle and provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, affected the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"It is unacceptable to the Chinese people," said Ma. "China has every reason to respond with countermeasures."

The one-China principle

In October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, confirming a basic norm of international relations: There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Then in December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, in which the U.S. "acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of China." According to the three joint communiques between China and the U.S., Washington can only maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Ma on Tuesday rejected the U.S. claim that Pelosi's visit did not violate the one-China policy, as she herself had admitted that it was an official visit.

He also slammed the U.S. for unilaterally adding the "Taiwan Relations Act" and the "Six Assurances" to its one-China policy.

"This is against international law. China never accepts it, and is always opposed to it."

A U.S.-provoked crisis

In disregard of China's repeated representations and warnings, the U.S. house speaker arrived in Taipei on August 2. In response, China began a series of joint military exercises and training activities around the Taiwan island.

Ma rejected the U.S. accusation that China should take full responsibility for the current escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, adding that it was "confounding black and white."

"The crisis is unilaterally provoked by the United States," he said. "China has no choice but to fight back and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ma said.

Noting the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait, he said China's countermeasures are a "necessary and legitimate" response to their provocations. "They are just and lawful."

In the aftermath of the visit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the cancellation and suspension of cooperation with the U.S. in some areas as well as sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family.

The United States is the "biggest troublemaker" of cross-Strait peace and regional stability, Ma said, urging it stop trying to use Taiwan to contain China.

A stronger one-China consensus

The Chinese side's position on Pelosi's visit has also been widely backed by the international community, with the United Nations reiterating the importance of adherence to the one-China principle.

Ma noted that more than 170 countries and many international organizations have "spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and expressing support for China in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

In a rebuke to the G7 foreign ministers' statement expressing "concern" over China's actions, he asked, "Compared with over 170 countries, what do G7 think they are? Who cares what they say?"

"In its aftermath, the one-China consensus of the international community emerged stronger, and the U.S. attempt to play the 'Taiwan card' and contain China proved more unpopular and futile," he said.