•The Taiwan issue belongs to the Chinese people, and no other country has the right to interfere.
•As President Xi Jinping reiterated, the way China and the US manage their relationship affects the future of the world.
Image: FILE
"The future of the American and Chinese nations – indeed, the future of the entire planet – depends on a healthy and stable relationship between China and the United States." These sentiments by the new Foreign Minister (FM) Qin Gang were recalled by an NBC journalist on March 7 at an international press conference held on the margins of the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress.
Gang was fielding questions from Chinese and foreign media about China’s foreign policy and external relations. The foreign journalist wondered whether it is possible for the two major countries to have a healthy and stable relationship, given the growing conflict of interest on a number of issues.
A recent episode in China-US relations is the unmanned aerial vehicle – the so-called balloon - incident. This was solely a force majeure occurrence and its facts and nature are perfectly clear. Even the US did not believe the balloon posed a physical threat. However, in violation of the spirit of international law and practice, the country acted on a presumption of guilt. It exaggerated, used excessive force and dramatised the incident, creating an avoidable diplomatic crisis.
Fundamentally, US perceptions and ideas about China are grossly distorted. She sees China as her main competitor, and her biggest geopolitical challenge. As a result, US policy towards China has completely deviated from a rational and reasonable course.
The US says it is trying to “overtake” China but does not seek conflict. In reality, however, its so-called "competition" means containing and repressing China in every possible way, dragging the two countries into a zero-sum game. The US talks a lot about following the rules.
America’s assertion that "creating protective barriers" for Sino- US relations and "not seeking conflict" actually means that China should not respond in words or actions when insulted or attacked. It's just impossible! If the US does not slow down but stays on the wrong track, no barriers will prevent the derailment and conflict and clashes will surely result.
Such a rivalry is a ruthless game where the vital interests of both nations and even the future of mankind are at stake. If the US has ambitions to become great again, it must also have a broad approach to the development of other countries. Lockdown and repression won't make America great, and it won't stop China from rejuvenating.
As President Xi Jinping reiterated, the way China and the US manage their relationship affects the future of the world. More and more visionary and insightful people in the US are also deeply concerned about the current state of China- US relations and are calling for rational and pragmatic policies towards China.
The relationship between China and the US should be governed by the common interests and shared responsibilities of the two countries, and the friendship between the Chinese and American people, not the American domestic politics or hysteria Neo-McCarthyism.
Some US think tanks and officials are speculating about the possibility of a Sino- US conflict over Taiwan in 2025 or 2027. China’s Constitution clearly states that “Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the inviolable duty of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to carry out the great task of reunifying the motherland."
Therefore, the resolution of the Taiwan issue belongs to the Chinese people, and no other country has the right to interfere. Some high-level US officials recently said that the Taiwan issue is not China's internal affair. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to a common family called China.
China will continue to work for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and commitment. In the meantime, the country reserves the right to take any action necessary. No one should ever underestimate the unwavering determination, strong will, or great ability of the Chinese government and people to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Taiwan issue is at the core of China's fundamental interests, the political foundation of Sino- US relations, and the first red line in these relations. The Chinese people have every right to ask: Why does the US widely talk about respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity while ignoring China's sovereignty and territorial integrity over Taiwan? Why is the US telling China not to supply arms to Russia while continuing to sell arms to Taiwan, in violation of the August 17 communiqué? Why does the superpower still claim to uphold regional peace and stability, while secretly formulating a "plan to destroy Taiwan"?
Taiwan's independence separatism is as incompatible with cross-strait peace and stability as fire is with water. The real threat to cross-strait peace and stability lies in the separatist forces seeking independence from Taiwan. A wrong approach to the Taiwan issue will shake the foundations of Sino-US relations. If the US truly expects a peaceful Taiwan Strait, it must stop restricting China by exploiting the Taiwan issue, return to the basic principles of the one China principle, honor its political commitment to China, and unequivocally reject and prevent Taiwan's independence.
The writer is the Executive Director of South-South Dialogues and a PhD student in International Relations at USIU-Africa.