China warns US of ‘resolute counterattack’ over Pompeo’s Taiwan remarks

China has warned of “resolute counterattack” measures, if the United States undermines Beijing’s core interests, amid a major escalation of tensions over Washington’s recent arms sales to Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said on Friday that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made controversial remarks about China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

Pompeo said on Thursday that Taiwan “has not been a part of China.”

Wang said on Friday, “We solemnly tell Pompeo and his ilk, that any behavior that undermines China’s core interests and interferes with China’s domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack by China.”

Taiwan foreign ministry spokeswoman, Joanne Ou, however, thanked Pompeo for his support.

“The Republic of China on Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country, and not part of the People’s Republic of China. This is a fact and the current situation,” she said.

China maintains sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, and under the “One China” policy, nearly all countries worldwide — including the US — recognize that sovereignty.

Washington, however, has been courting Taiwan in an attempt to irk Beijing. It regularly conducts provocative moves around the self-governed island, particularly by sailing its warships through the sensitive and strategic Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from mainland China.

Taiwan officials will travel to Washington next week for economic talks, which have angered Beijing.

In another move that has already annoyed China, the Pentagon announced last week that the US State Department had cleared the potential sale of four MQ-9 SeaGuardian drones — worth 600 million dollars — to Taiwan in a formal notification to Congress.

Tensions between the US and China remain at their highest point in decades, with sharp divisions over a host of political and economic issues, including Hong Kong the coronavirus pandemic and a long-time trade dispute that is not expected to be resolved soon.

MG