The Chinese Foreign Ministry has demanded that the US torpedo its pending trade deal with Taiwan, arguing that such a pact would violate agreements on the self-governing island’s legal status.
“China strongly opposes official interaction of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday at a press briefing in Beijing. “That includes negotiating or signing any agreement of sovereign implication or official nature.”
Mao made her comments in response to reports that Washington and Taipei were set to sign a trade agreement on Thursday. The deal aims to strengthen economic ties between the US and Taiwan and boost exports of American goods to the self-governing island.
China has insisted that its legal status over the breakaway province be respected.
US President Joe Biden claims his administration stands by the “One China policy,” under which Washington has for decades acknowledged – without
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