Friday 21 April 2023

China's foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China

China's foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China

China's foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China




Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, April 14, 2023. Suo Takekuma/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo






China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Friday that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China, and that it is right and proper for China to uphold its sovereignty.







Qin made the remarks at the Lanting Forum in Shanghai, where he discussed a wide range of topics from debt, the global economy, and Taiwan.


"Recently there has been absurd rhetoric accusing China of upending the status quo, disrupting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Qin said. "The logic is absurd and the conclusion dangerous."


He added that "fair-minded people can see who is engaged in hegemonic bullying and high-minded practices."


"It is not the Chinese mainland, but the Taiwan independence separatist forces and a handful of countries attempting to disrupt the status quo," Qin said. "Those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned."


China recently held military exercises around the self-ruled island after Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.


Beijing views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim the government in Taipei strongly rejects, and routinely denounces high-level meetings between Taiwanese and foreign leaders and officials.



Accusations of Playing with Fire



Qin argued that the real source of disruption was not the Chinese mainland, but rather the Taiwan independence separatist forces and a few countries attempting to interfere with the status quo. "Those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned," he warned.


China recently conducted military exercises around the self-ruled island following Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's return to Taipei from a meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.


Beijing views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim that the government in Taipei vehemently denies. China also routinely denounces high-level meetings between Taiwanese and foreign leaders and officials, arguing that such interactions threaten China's sovereignty and the delicate balance of peace in the region.









Qin Gang to attend Lanting Forum in Shanghai



The Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World will be held at the Grand Halls in Shanghai on April 21. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will attend the opening ceremony of the forum and deliver a keynote speech.


The forum is expected to host foreign dignitaries, prestigious experts and scholars, business leaders, foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations in China and representatives from international media.


The forum is jointly organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. Under the theme of “Chinese Modernization and the World”, the forum consists of three panel sessions and a luncheon with the business community for in-depth exchanges on topics including the new development of China, better global governance, closer people-to-people exchanges and high-standard opening up.  


State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will attend the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World in Shanghai on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced.


The event will be held at the Grand Halls in Shanghai, and Qin will deliver a keynote speech.


The forum is expected to host foreign dignitaries, prestigious experts and scholars, business leaders, foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations in China and representatives from international media, said Wang.


The forum is expected to host foreign dignitaries, prestigious experts and scholars, business leaders, foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations in China and representatives from international media, said Wang.


Under the theme of "Chinese Modernization and the World", the forum consists of three panel sessions and a luncheon with the business community for in-depth exchanges on topics including the new development of China, better global governance, closer people-to-people exchanges and pursuing high-standard opening up, according to Wang.


The forum is co-organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.























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