China rejects US, Taiwan military connection

Beijing: China firmly opposes official contact and military connection of any forms between the United States and Taiwan and urges the U.S. side to correct its wrong practices and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

The remarks came as a spokesperson with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) revealed on Wednesday that since 2005, U.S. government personnel detailed to AIT had included active duty military personnel.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson responded to this issue on the same day, saying the United States adheres to the one-China policy and the security of the AIT is jointly taken charge of by a small group of U.S. personnel and a larger number of local employees and local authorities, according to media report.

The U.S. side had made an explicit pledge to China on maintaining non-official relations with Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a press briefing. “China firmly opposes official contact and military connection of any forms between the United States and Taiwan, and has previously lodged solemn representations with the United States over relevant issues repeatedly.”

The one-China principle serves as the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, Geng said, adding that the deployment of military personnel to Taiwan by the United States under any pretext is a violation to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between the two countries, and inevitably has a negative impact on bilateral ties.

“We urge the United States to keep its promise, abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques, correct its wrong practices, and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid serious damage to bilateral ties as well as to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” said Geng.