China justified in taking countermeasures against Tsai's U.S. "transit" trip

This photo taken on March 29, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The leader of China's Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen made a "transit" trip to the United States, met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and openly preached "Taiwan independence." This was another attempt toward creating tension in the Taiwan Strait.

In response, China took strong countermeasures to deter the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and sternly warn against interference from external forces. This is a just move to safeguard national sovereignty and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The United States called Tsai's transit "private." However, she met with U.S. government officials and congressmen, including Kevin McCarthy, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, and trumpeted "Taiwan independence" at every opportunity and sought "international support."

These actions prove that by no means it was a "private trip" as claimed by the United States. It is a provocative act by the United States and Taiwan authorities in an attempt to upgrade official interaction and substantive relations, which seriously violates the one-China principle.

In August of last year, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan pushed for a visit by Nancy Pelosi, the predecessor of Kevin McCarthy, and intensified its provocation by colluding with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence." In response, China took firm countermeasures based on solid legal grounds.

It should be noted that the U.S. side has blatantly violated the commitment made by President Joe Biden during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia, last November, and is bent on arranging political activities for Tsai under the guise of a "transit," ignoring China's strong opposition.

This is a bad act that grossly violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The one-China principle has long been the general consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations. To date, 182 countries including the United States have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of this principle.

The Taiwan question lies at the heart of China's core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in Sino-U.S. relations.

China is determined to crack down on "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities with the firmest resolve, and take the strongest measures to eliminate interference by external forces. Robust countermeasures demonstrate China's unwavering determination, firm resolve, and formidable capability to safeguard its national sovereignty.

After assuming office, Tsai actively pursued closer ties with the United States, wantonly played up the so-called "China threat," smeared and attacked the "one country, two systems," disrupted and restricted cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation, and constantly raised the tone against the Chinese mainland. Such actions have undermined the hard-won peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

The DPP authorities rely on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence," and the anti-China forces in the United States use Taiwan to contain China, posing the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Given the repeated support to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces by the United States, and the DPP authorities' consistent provocation and disruptive behavior, it is necessary that China should take resolute countermeasures to teach these forces a lesson.

The more rampant "Taiwan independence" activities are, the less likely it is to peacefully resolve the Taiwan question. Only by letting those political forces who use Taiwan as a "show ground" for political speculation feel the pain, can we effectively deter "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the interests and well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and promote the realization of complete national reunification.

Any perverse attempt to block the great cause of China's reunification will surely be crushed by the wheels of history, and any attempt to slow down or even block the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will only make the Chinese people more united than ever. The Taiwan question arose as a result of weakness and chaos in our nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality.