Latest news with #OneChinaPrinciple
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
China slams Hegseth speech, accuses US of seeking to use Taiwan issue as 'leverage' against Beijing
SINGAPORE: China warned the United States against using Taiwan as "leverage" against Beijing, responding to remarks by the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue. On Saturday (May 31), Hegseth characterised China as an imminent threat and criticised its actions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. "The US should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a statement issued early Sunday morning (Jun 1). "The US must never play with fire on this question." The statement was a direct response to Mr Hegseth's speech delivered on Saturday morning at Asia's premier defence summit in Singapore, in which he warned that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force and urged regional allies to increase defence spending. "The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," Hegseth said. China, in turn, accused the US of escalating tensions and undermining peace in the region. "No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself," the foreign ministry said, pointing to American deployments in the South China Sea and its Indo-Pacific strategy as destabilising moves that have turned the region into a "powder keg". It also reiterated that the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair, calling on Washington to cease support for "Taiwan independence" forces and fully adhere to the One-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. Hegseth's address marked his first appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue as defence secretary under the Trump administration. He warned that any attempt by Beijing to seize Taiwan would have "devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world," echoing President Donald Trump's assertion that China would not invade Taiwan "on his watch." In a separate panel on Saturday afternoon, China's representative Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng rejected what he described as "groundless accusations" made by other speakers at the forum, calling them "politically motivated" and aimed at provoking conflict. Hu, leading a delegation from the PLA's National Defense University, criticised foreign military deployments near China's waters and reiterated Beijing's opposition to "unilateralism" and "hegemonic bullying". The foreign ministry's statement struck a similar tone, describing Hegseth's speech as filled with "provocations" and warning that Washington's actions are "deliberately destroying the peaceful and stable environment cherished by the region". On the South China Sea, China said there was "no problem" with freedom of navigation and accused the US of being the true disruptor. "China has always been committed to dialogue and consultation," the statement said, while asserting its sovereignty over contested maritime areas. China did not send Defence Minister Dong Jun to this year's forum, the first time since 2019 that Beijing will not be represented by its defence chief.
News24
08-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Western Cape MEC's Taiwan visit unleashes opposition party fury
A heated debate unfolded in the Western Cape legislature over MEC Ivan Meyer's Taiwan trip, which led to sanctions by China. Meyer was banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macao for violating the One China principle. Opposition parties claimed Meyer's actions risked crucial trade agreements with China. A ruckus broke out during a Western Cape legislature sitting on Thursday over MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Ivan Meyer's trip to Taiwan, which led to sanctions from China. Meyer was barred by China in December last year from entering China, Hong Kong and Macao with his family for violating the One China principle, which demands countries recognise Taiwan as part of China and avoid formal relations with Taiwan. The Chinese government further criticised Meyer's trip as interference in its internal affairs. The sanctions also prohibit meaningful economic exchanges between Meyer and Chinese citizens. Opposition parties accused Meyer of putting crucial trade agreements between China and the province in jeopardy. Leading the charge, ANC provincial leader in the legislature, Khalid Sayed, asked Premier Alan Winde whether Meyer would be held accountable. 'Whatever MEC Meyer does reflects on the position that he holds; hence, he takes an oath of office. The undeniable facts available are that the recent visit to Taiwan by MEC Meyer does in fact run the risk of jeopardising and straining the Western Cape's, and indeed South Africa's, vital diplomatic trade and investment relations with the People's Republic of China, especially considering South Africa's official foreign policy position regarding the One China policy,' he said. In response, Winde told members of the provincial legislature (MPLs) that Meyer's trip to Taiwan was not an official engagement conducted on behalf of the provincial government or any of its entities. 'It was conducted strictly in his personal and private capacity and not as a member of this government. I've been informed that at no time did MEC Meyer suggest that he made the trip as a representative of this government, nor did he attempt to suggest any endorsement of the trip on this government's behalf,' he said. Winde further said the province values its ties to the People's Republic of China. The ANC has consistently criticised the DA over Meyer's trip. Two weeks ago, the ANC caucus left the provincial legislature after its member, Rachel Windvogel, was kicked out after she refused to apologise for saying that Meyer had 'betrayed' the country by visiting Taiwan. DA MPL Benedicta van Minnen hit back at Sayed, accusing him of having 'selective amnesia'. 'Just eight days ago, the honourable member (Sayed) shared a picture on X of himself engaging with Russian representatives, recklessly risking our trade relations with Europe and the United States. Such actions threatened vital agreements like AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), which underpin key industries and thousands of jobs. Yet today he rises to launch a frivolous and deeply inaccurate interpolation, levelling baseless accusations against MEC Meyer, ironically for the very conduct of which he himself is guilty of,' she said. Van Minnen was referring to when Sayed joined the Russian consulate for a reception on the occasion of the arrival of the iconic Kruzenshtern Russian ship in the port of Cape Town. ACDP leader Ferlon Christians accused the ANC benches of misleading the residents of the province. 'This topic is repeated, and I think the ANC is causing more damage by misleading the people. I want to say to members of this House that when they visit countries in their private capacity, they must do so. Member Windvogel must still apologise,' he said. Windvogel shouted, 'I will never do that'. GOOD party MPL Brett Herron said Meyer's foremost duty was to protect and advance the economic interests of the province. He asked: He also wondered 'what exactly happened, or how egregious his behaviour was' to have led to a ban if the MEC had visited Taiwan in a personal capacity. 'Being banned from engaging directly with Chinese officials and business representatives places MEC Meyer in a compromised position. 'It limits his ability to build relationships, attract investment, and promote trade, all of which are critical functions of his portfolio,' said Herron. Meyer was not present during the legislature sitting. Comment from him will be added once received.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Uncommon bonds: US support for Taiwan
Rising anxiety about a possible invasion of Taiwan by China has knitted Republicans and Democrats together in support of the self-governing island that boasts the world's most advanced computer chips. Partly fueled by cross–aisle angst toward China, US support for Taiwan has been remarkably solid even as other foreign policy issues — like backing for Ukraine or foreign aid programs — fracture lawmakers along partisan lines. Bipartisan groups of lawmakers have traveled to Taiwan, met with Taiwanese leaders, and pushed for the accelerated deployment of equipment from foreign military sales to the island. A bipartisan resolution introduced recently in the House and Senate reaffirms US support for Taiwan and its membership in international organizations while rejecting the 'One China Principle' by which Beijing claims control over Taiwan. The US officially acknowledges Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China but does not agree with the claim. 'Not only is Taiwan a thriving democracy of 23 million people but a hub for the global semiconductor industry that powers everything from your cell phone to your washing machine,' Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch, R-Idaho, one of the lead cosponsors, told Semafor in a statement. 'To protect the American economy and our way of life, we must help Taiwan deter Chinese aggression.' The Senate measure is also backed by the Foreign Relations panel's top Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, in addition to Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del. On the House side, its sponsors include Foreign Affairs Committee members Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Ami Bera, D-Calif., and China committee leaders John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US expressed appreciation for the resolution, telling Semafor in a statement that it would 'continue to work closely with the US Congress and the administration to foster closer bilateral cooperation and deepen this critical partnership.' The robust support for Taiwan contrasts with the now-eroded bipartisan support for Ukraine, which fell apart thanks to Republican fatigue over sending tens of billions of dollars in military assistance and other aid to Kyiv to help it fight Russia. Bonnie Glaser, managing director of German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific program, said Taiwan is a fundamentally different issue because of the island's robust investment in the US and high-tech sector, as well as the strong 'anti-China sentiment' in Congress that helps propel its support in Washington. 'The kind of divisions that we've seen on Ukraine, I think, are less likely to appear as it pertains to Taiwan,' said Glaser. Some critics of Ukraine aid have also argued that the US should focus vital military resources not on Ukraine but on preparing to aid Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, viewing China as a bigger long-term threat to the US. Perhaps the most senior Republican making that argument: Vice President JD Vance, who played a central role in Friday's remarkable blowup of US-Ukraine talks. But Ukraine aid supporters have argued that the Russian attacks on its neighbor are interrelated with Taiwan's potential independence. They say keeping up support for Ukraine against Russia will serve as a deterrent against any Chinese action against Taiwan. 'If we continue to stand strongly with Ukraine, I think unmistakably the message that sends to [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping is that we'll work with our allies and partners to impose real costs on the PRC if they were to take the step of trying to militarily conquer Taiwan,' Coons told Semafor, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. 'I think that continues to be a bipartisan perspective.' President Donald Trump declined to comment last week when asked whether it was the policy of his administration not to allow China to take Taiwan by force. 'I never comment on that … because I don't want to ever put myself in that position. And if I said it, I certainly wouldn't say it to you. I'd be saying it to other people, maybe people around this table,' he said at a Cabinet meeting. In doing so, Trump distinguished himself from comments made by former President Joe Biden about defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. His White House went so far as to clarify that his remarks did not represent a change in the US policy of deliberate ambiguity about such a potential incursion. A former Trump administration national security official told Semafor that Trump's comments were an example of him reverting to that strategic ambiguity. 'That approach fits with his general approach to negotiations, which is that unpredictability is a source of leverage,' the former official said. 'The US needs to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on its commitment of not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' stop abetting 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs on the Taiwan question,' Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, told Semafor when asked for comment on the bipartisan resolution about Taiwan. A new Gallup survey found that opinions of China in the US actually improved from 2024 to 2025 across both political parties and independents. Trump's stance on Ukraine 'could fan debate in Taiwan about whether it can count on American support in the event of a widening conflict with China,' The New York Times wrote. The State Department under Trump removed a line on its website stating that the US does not support Taiwan independence, prompting a rebuke from Beijing.
