China Threatens “Counterstrike” against the USA: over contact with Taiwan

On Saturday 9th January the US secretary of United State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department is lifting the “complex internal restrictions” on diplomats in contact with their counterparts in Taiwan. After a year of sizeable US-Chinese friction in matters including human rights, trade, and the origin of the coronavirus feud. Another step that will disturb the dragon nation has Trump’s administration period comes to an end.

The Trump administration tried to reinforce diplomatic links with Taiwan.  On Thursday, they declared that U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft was to go to Taiwan a move that ignited outrage from Beijing, warning that the United States was going to pay a high price.

Upon this the declaration on Saturday by the secretary of state it resurrected the fire.

China threatened a “counterstrike” on Monday against the United States for attempting to lift official communication restrictions on Taiwan as military tensions between Beijing and the independent island rose.

Beijing claims that Taiwan is an axiomatic part of China and will be reclaimed at any cost with and if necessary, would use force, and opposes any diplomatic recognition to the self-regulated island.

Speaker Zhao Lijian, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing “strongly condemns” the move and accused the US of breaching Diplomacy terms with Beijing.

“Any action that harms China’s core interests will receive a resolute counterstrike from China,” Zhao threatens, urging Pompeo to retract its decision or face severe problems.

It is unclear what the move will be in the meantime, with Secretary Pompeo claiming that the executive branch interacted with Taiwan and will be controlled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which serves as the de facto embassy of the U.S. government.

The AIT was founded in 1979 when the US extended diplomatic recognition to mainland China under a historic agreement requiring it to terminate the formal recognition of Taiwan.

Beijing’s animosity has increased dramatically since Tsai Ing-wen was elected President of Taiwan in 2016— Ing-wen opposes that Beijing’s assertion that the island is part of “one China”.

Washington remains Taipei’s deeply dedicated ally and is bound to sell its defensive weapons by congress. It is firmly against changing the current status of Taiwan with force.

Pompeo said the U.S. maintains ties with off the record around the world, and Taiwan is no exception.

“Our two democracies share the common values of individual freedom, the rule of law and respect for human dignity,” said Mr. Pompeo. “Today’s statement recognizes that the relationship between the United States and Taiwan will not and should not be shackled by self-imposed restrictions on our permanent bureaucracy.”

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