China urges US officials to prudently handle Taiwan-related issues

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China urges relevant U.S. officials to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reportedly said that China cannot tell him where he can go at any time or place when responding to a question from reporters about his potential trip to Taiwan this spring.

In response to McCarthy's remarks, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing that China urges relevant people in the United States to credibly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, observe the basic norms in international relations, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly.

The spokesperson also urged them to stop interfering in China's internal affairs and refrain from doing things that could undermine China-U.S. relations or peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"China will continue safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said.

When asked for comments about the meeting between Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and Phil Davidson, former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, earlier Thursday, Mao reiterated China's position on the Taiwan question.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," Mao said, noting that resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese and must be decided by the Chinese.

Mao pointed out that the tensions across the Taiwan Strait are caused by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, which have kept soliciting U.S. support for "Taiwan independence" and some people in the United States who intend to use Taiwan to contain China.

The U.S. side should deliver on U.S. leaders' commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop all forms of official interaction and military contact with Taiwan, stop meddling in the Taiwan question, and stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait, said the spokesperson.