CCTV: According to reports, the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade was signed in Washington D.C. on the evening of June 1. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: China strongly opposes official interactions of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China. That includes negotiating or signing any agreement that implies sovereignty and has an official nature. The US government has deliberately pushed forward negotiations with the DPP authorities in Taiwan on the so-called “Initiative on 21st Century Trade” and signed the agreement. This gravely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and contravenes the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan. China strongly deplores this and has made serious démarches to the US side.

Under the disguise of trade cooperation, the so-called “Initiative” is just a US tool to rip Taiwan off. The DPP authorities, driven by the selfish separatist agenda, have no scruples to betray Taiwan compatriots and businesses’ interests or sell Taiwan away. By signing the agreement, they are offering Taiwan to the US on a plate. This is the latest example of the US trying to fudge and hollow out the one-China principle. We once again urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, immediately change course and stop official interactions of any form with Taiwan, stop pushing forward and revoke at once the so-called “Initiative” and agreement, and stop sending wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, otherwise all consequences shall be borne by the US side.