CHINA made it clear there is “no room at all” for compromise when it comes to Taiwan, adding that the issue.
Is a very sensitive one in the wake of its improving bilateral relations with Australia.
Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian made the statement a few days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on Beijing to respect the election results in Taiwan.
Lai Ching-te rose to the political ranks after being declared the new president of Taiwan on January 13 and will be officially sworn in as its leader in mid-May.
Taiwan’s major military partner and close ally United States watched closely as scenes of the election unfolded last week.
Lai, who is keen on forging deeper ties with the West, was labeled by China as an “instigator of war.”
Australia, a supporter of the one-China policy, congratulated Taiwan for successfully holding the recent election – a move rebuked by China by lodging diplomatic protests.
Responding to Australia’s recent statement, the Chinese ambassador said the elections will not change the fact there’s only one China, and Taiwan is part of it.
According to the Chinese diplomat, Beijing would continue to be flexible with its partners on many issues but warned there is no room for compromise when it comes to the question of Taiwan because it involves China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The incident surfaced at a time of improving bilateral ties between Beijing and Canberra in 2022, with China lifting a series of economic sanctions on Australian products.
The Chinese ambassador reassured that China’s increased presence in the Pacific should not be a cause of alarm for Australia noting that it aims to support social stability, economic development, and bilateral trade relations in the region.
