China pledges ‘forceful steps’ against Taiwan interference

UNITED NATIONS: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday warned against interference on Taiwan, telling the United Nations that Beijing would take “forceful steps” to prevent any outside support for the island’s independence.

“We must combat Taiwan independence separatist activities with the firmest resolve and take the most forceful steps to oppose external interference,” China’s top diplomat said in a UN General Assembly speech.

“Any move to obstruct China’s reunification is bound to be crushed by the wheels of history,” he added.

“Only when China is fully reunified can there be true peace across the Taiwan Strait,” Wang Yi said.

China vehemently defends its claim on Taiwan, which separated from the mainland ater a 1949 civil war and now functions with its own government.

A recent visit by the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, markedly ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The language, while forceful, was not out of the realm of the normal for China. Taiwan is a core issue of the country’s policy, and Wang’s appearance - instead of his boss, Chinese leader Xi Jinping - was a signal that the speech was not a major one.

Wang Yi also told the General Assembly on Saturday that China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the “crisis” in Ukraine, adding that the pressing priority was to facilitate talks for peace.

“The fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture,” Wang said in his address.

Russia’s strategic partner China has been firmly on the fence, criticising Western sanctions against Russia but stopping short of endorsing or assisting in the military campaign.

In a surprise acknowledgement, Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said China’s leader Xi Jinping had concerns about Ukraine.