Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian denounced the comments made by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on China’s “countermeasures” against the US and Taiwan in the latest round of verbal clashes that underscored the simmering tensions between the two superpowers.
A strongly worded statement was posted on the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s website on Aug. 6, Saturday, at almost midnight, hours after Blinken’s courtesy call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and online news conference with his Philippine counterpart.
Huang said he needed to “set the record straight.”
“Such remarks are in total defiance of the facts, attempting to confuse right with wrong and shift the blame on China, which again underscores the US’s bullying, highhandedness and hegemony,” he added.
The envoy described US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which he said had been advised against for its “grave nature and severe harm”, as a provocation meant to undermine the stability in the Taiwan Strait.
READ: Pelosi says US will ‘not allow’ China to isolate Taiwan
“This move seriously violates the one-China principle, maliciously infringes on China’s sovereignty, gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence,’” Huang said.
“The Chinese government has every right to do whatever necessary and justified to resolutely uphold our sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has acted in legitimate self-defense only after the US made this egregious provocation,” he added.
The international community follows the One China Policy, recognizing only mainland China as a sovereign state and treating Taipei as part of the mainland’s territory.
Official visits by high-ranking members of a state are frowned upon and Pelosi’s visit there to allegedly promote democracy angered Beijing.
But Blinken on Saturday described China’s retaliations due to US Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan “irresponsible” and called out the Asian economic powerhouse not to hold hostage communication on key issues like climate change.
China has cut off communication with the United States on Friday on key topics, such as defense, narcotics, transnational crime, and climate change, as retaliation for Pelosi’s visit to what Beijing considers a renegade island and one to be annexed by force if needed.
READ: US hits China for suspending climate talks; PH vows to help deescalate tension
This happened as China sent missiles off the waters of Taiwan on Thursday and held practices for its warship and aircraft on Saturday to allegedly prepare for an attack on Taiwan.
“Facts are clear that it is the US that has been acting irresponsibly all along which led to the escalation of tension. The US should take full responsibility,” the envoy wrote.
He alleged that Washington was trying to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, which had always been under the One China Policy.
“And the US constantly distorts, obscures and hollows out the one-China principle, playing the so-called ‘Taiwan card’ and trying to use Taiwan to contain China in an attempt to obstruct China’s great cause of reunification and disrupt China’s peaceful development,” he stressed.
The ambassador also accused Washington of destabilizing peace and security in the Asia Pacific region by interfering in regional matters and “ganging up for confrontation and creating division” through the sending of US military vessels and aircraft “from half a globe away” to flex its muscles in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
While he noted Blinken’s comments that the US is determined to manage difference with China responsibly, the envoy warned to “watch the US actions.”
“What the US must do first, is to fulfill its commitment on the Taiwan question to respecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop conniving at and supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ seperatist forces,” his statement read.