The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denounced the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, asserting China's sovereignty over the self-ruled island. The ministry's spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, also criticized the U.S. for distorting a UN resolution on China's representation and urged the Philippines to reflect on its accusations regarding the South China Sea.
China's Foreign Ministry has denounced the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, asserting China's sovereignty over the self-ruled island. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned that pushing for Taiwan independence was a "dead-end" after Lai delivered his inaugural speech on Monday.
In his speech, Lai stated that China and Taiwan "are not subordinate to each other" and urged Beijing to stop its military threats and intimidation. He also pledged to continue his predecessor's push for stability with China while strengthening Taiwan's security through military equipment imports from the U.S.
Wang also criticized the U.S. for what he called its "distortion" of UN General Assembly Resolution 2857, which endorses Beijing's seat at the UN. He argued that this act challenged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A group of U.S. senators had written to the WHO Director Tedros last week appealing for Taiwan's participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly. The resolution, however, only addressed China's representation in the UN and did not determine Taiwan's status or prohibit its participation in UN agencies.
Wang characterized China's reunification with Taiwan as the "trend of the times," emphasizing that those who followed it would prosper, while those who resisted would perish.
China has intensified its military pressure and diplomatic isolation against Taiwan in recent years, regularly sending fighter jets and navy vessels near the island.
In a separate incident, Wang urged the Philippines to "reflect on itself" after the Philippine Coast Guard accused Chinese fishermen of depleting giant clam populations and damaging coral reefs in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard presented surveillance photographs of Chinese fishermen harvesting giant clams in the lagoon at Scarborough Shoal.
Maritime disputes between Beijing and Manila have escalated in the South China Sea, with the Philippines accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of using water cannons against its supply ships around a contested shoal.
China has claimed sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, while several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have competing claims in the region.
