China on Thursday criticized US plans to sign a trade deal with Taiwan and urged Washington to sever official contacts with the island, which Beijing says belongs to its territory.
“The United States must cease any form of official exchange with Taiwan, refrain from negotiating sovereign or official agreements with Taiwan, and refrain from sending false signals to Taiwan’s separatist forces.”said Chinese diplomatic spokeswoman Mao Ning.
The deal, which will be signed on Thursday, comes as China is mounting pressure to intimidate Taiwan by sending planes and warships close to the area on an almost daily basis.
Several North American and European politicians visited Taiwan to show their support for the area’s elected government.
China and Taiwan have been living as two autonomous regions since 1949, when the former Chinese nationalist government sought refuge on the island after its civil war defeat by the communists. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and threatens to reunite it by force if the island formally declares independence.
The United States has no official relations with Taiwan, but maintains extensive informal ties and trade worth billions of dollars.
US and Taiwanese officials say the US-Taiwan Trade Initiative will boost trade by streamlining customs, investment and other rules.
According to the Taiwanese government, the agreement must be signed by officials of unofficial entities representing the two governments in each country, in a ceremony attended by trade representatives from both sides.
Source: DN
