China urges US to cease all forms of official contact with Taiwan

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China on Tuesday slammed the US for its plan to send a delegation of former officials to Taiwan, saying it was futile to send anyone to demonstrate US support for Taiwan.

(File photo: CFP)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to reports that US President Joe Biden would be sending a delegation of former senior defense and security officials led by former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen. The delegation is scheduled to meet Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday.

"The Chinese people’s determination and will to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering, and it is futile for the US side to send anyone to demonstrate their so-called ‘support for Taiwan'," Wang said.

"We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, stop official contacts with Taiwan in any form and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues so as not to further seriously damage China-US relations."

(Compiled by Meng Gaohan and Xiao Jiabin)