US urged to cut military contact with Taiwan

China urged the United States on Thursday to honor promises it made over the Taiwan question and stop military contact with Taiwan immediately to avoid damaging China-US ties.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily news conference in Beijing in response to a question on a bill amended by the US Senate Committee on Armed Services. The amendment allows the US Navy to make regular port calls in Taiwan.

The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, shows that the committee amendment “reestablishes regular ports of call by the US Navy at Kaohsiung or any other suitable ports in Taiwan, and permits the US Pacific Command to receive ports of call by Taiwan”.

The bill will move to the US Senate for consideration.

Lu said China has lodged solemn representations to the US government over its wrong behavior on Taiwan-related issues, and is “gravely concerned and resolutely against” the bill.

“The Taiwan question bears on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is purely China’s internal affairs,” he said.

The provision “seriously violates the principles in the three joint communiques between China and the US, and interferes in China’s internal affairs,” he added. “It’s impossible for China to accept it.”

“We urge the US to honor the commitment it has made to China over the Taiwan question, and to stop military contact with Taiwan and arms sale to Taiwan immediately, to avoid damaging China-US ties and extensive China-US cooperation,” Lu said.