BEIJING: China stepped up its rhetoric over Taiwan on Monday, saying thatany support for its independence as “doomed to fail”.
Beijing also threatened retaliation against US diplomatic visits to theisland.
Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in1949, but Beijing considers the island part of its territory awaitingreunification.
The island is a flashpoint with Washington, which promises military supportto the elected government and has sent two envoys to Taipei in as manymonths.
At a press briefing Monday, the foreign ministry said that the envoys’visits were a “political provocation” and threatened retaliation.
“China will take appropriate countermeasures, including targeting relevantindividuals,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, withoutelaborating.
He warned that the US actions will “further damage the cooperation” betweenthe US and China.
Wang added that any support for Taiwan’s independence is a “dead end…doomed to fail”.
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Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.
Beijing rejects any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-longpolicy of marginalising the democratic island.
Washington’s increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump isamong a catalogue of sore points with Beijing as the countries clash overissues including trade, security and the coronavirus pandemic.
The US Undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and theenvironment Keith Krach wrapped up a trip to Taiwan at the weekend,following on the heels of a trip by US health chief Alex Azar in August.
Last Friday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets as the Chinese militaryconducted exercises near the Taiwan Strait during Krach’s visit.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of “military blustering”.-APP/AFP
