On April 19, 2024, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng visited the Fairbank Center for China Studies at Harvard University and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations with experts and scholars at the center.

Ambassador Xie pointed that the real statue quo about the Taiwan question is that both sides belong to the one and same China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The continued tension across the Strait in recent years is due to two forces trying to change the status quo: first, the Taiwan authorities, who attempt to seek independence by resorting to U.S. support, deny the 1992 consensus, obstinately pursue “instrumental independence” and keep challenging the red line of the one-China principle. Second, the external forces, who are using Taiwan as a card to contain China, attempting to turn Taiwan into a “porcupine”. These forces and the “Taiwan independence” separatists emboldened by them pose the real risks and biggest threats to the statue quo and peace and stability across the Strait. 

On reunification, China’s policy is consistent and clear-cut. We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not sit idly by when confronted with secessionist activities by the “Taiwan independence” forces and the external support behind them, and we will never allow “peaceful separation”.

Ambassador Xie stressed that the Taiwan question is always the most important, sensitive and disruptive question in the China-U.S. relationship. History has proven that when the Taiwan question is properly managed, the China-U.S. relationship has a stable floor. Otherwise, the relationship would be rattled. The U.S. side should fully recognize the sensitivity of this question, observe the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques, and earnestly honor President Biden’s commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” and not seeking to use Taiwan to contain China. The U.S. side should do more things conducive to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, openly oppose “Taiwan independence”, support China’s peaceful reunification and avoid sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces. If the Taiwan authorities acknowledge the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and the U.S. side observes the one-China principle and the three Joint Communiques, the Taiwan Strait will have lasting peace and stability.