FM Qin says both sides of Taiwan Strait China's, warns against 'playing with fire'

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang said on Friday that both sides of the strategic Taiwan Strait belong to China while reaffirming Beijing's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and international order.

Qin made the remarks at the Lanting Forum in Shanghai, where he discussed a wide array of topics from the year-long war in Ukraine to recent developments regarding the self-ruled island of 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."

The top Chinese diplomat hastened to add that the "fair-minded people" understand "who is engaged in hegemonic bullying and high-minded practices", in an oblique reference to the United States.

"It is not the Chinese mainland, but the Taiwan independence separatist forces and a handful of countries attempting to disrupt the status quo," Qin remarked.

"Those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned."

His remarks came weeks after China staged three days of military exercises near Taiwan after the self-ruled island’s President Tsai Ing-wen met with the speaker of the United States House of Representatives  Kevin McCarthy in California, ignoring warnings from Beijing.

 Beijing accuses Tsai, who returned to office in 2020, of pursuing "separatist" ambitions and holds Taiwan's Western allies, in particular the US, responsible for instability in the region.

In August last year, Beijing issued a white paper reiterating that it was prepared to use force to take control of the self-ruled island amid repeated provocations from Washington.

Qin accused the Taiwanese administration and its Western allies of disrupting international rules, unilaterally changing the status quo, and undermining stability across the Straits.

He said their definition of rules, status quo and stability is aimed at delegitimizing the one-China principle, achieving "peaceful division" of China, and trampling on China's sovereignty.

US troops in Taiwan

Taiwanese media have reported that the US has significantly increased its military presence on the island.

"This is unacceptable to the 1.4 billion Chinese people. China will not lose any part of its territory that has been restored. And the established post-war international order will not be upended," the Chinese foreign minister stressed.

He further stated that China has the best record in adhering to the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the norms of international relations. 

"We need no reminder by certain countries or groups of countries. Fair-minded people can see full well who is exploiting and discarding the UN at its own will, who is disrupting the international order, and who is engaged in hegemonic, bullying and high-handed practices," Qin said.

He reiterated that the self-ruled island has been an indisputable part of China's territory, and both sides of the Straits belong to one and same China.

"This is Taiwan's history, and it is also the status quo of Taiwan. Taiwan's return to China is a component of the post-war international order, written in black and white in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation," the top Chinese diplomat noted.

Beijing views Chinese Taipei as an inseparable part of China, repeatedly warming Washington against provocative measures.

The US does not recognize Taiwan as a country and officially supports the "One China" policy, but continues to antagonize Beijing by siding with Taipei's secessionist administration.

Washington also engages in frequent military missions around the island and serves as its largest weapons supplier.

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