On May 5, 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng gave an exclusive interview to Senior Foreign Policy Writer Tom O’Connor from Newsweek on U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China and China-U.S. relations.

Tom O’Connor asked:Are there concerns over continued US political and military support for Taiwan? How have tensions in the world order affected the Taiwan situation?

Ambassador Xie said that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle as defined above is an integral part of the post-war international order, a basic norm of international relations and a broad international consensus solemnly confirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758 and other international instruments, and also the prerequisite and the political foundation for all countries, including the U.S., to establish and develop diplomatic relations with China. Adhering to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and opposing “Taiwan independence” is the foundation for cross-Strait communication and dialogue, and the anchor of peace and stability in the Strait.

Ambassador Xie pointed out that in the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the U.S., the U.S. side pledged that “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” It is only natural that China should oppose any form of official interactions or military contacts between the U.S. and Taiwan. Just imagine: if a foreign country sold weapons to a U.S. state seeking “independence”, and even sent a leader to visit the state to show support regardless of the U.S. federal government’s strong opposition, could the American people accept it? President Abraham Lincoln stated that “A house divided against itself cannot stand”, and chose to fight to keep the country united. Ambassador Xie said he believes the American people, who faced the danger of division and had a civil war in history, can understand China’s will and determination to safeguard national unity.

Ambassador Xie noted that last month, General Secretary Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, and made important remarks, calling for fostering heart-to-heart connection on the basis of correct identity, safeguarding the common homeland through peaceful development, improving public well-being through exchanges and closer ties, and striving together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This has set the direction for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations in the new situation. Following the meeting, the Chinese mainland announced ten policies and measures to boost cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. This has proven once again that, the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have sufficient wisdom and capability to handle our own affairs properly, and as long as it is recognized that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and that “Taiwan independence” should be opposed, there will be no obstacle to enhancing exchanges and dialogue between the mainland and various communities in Taiwan, and there will be no problem with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific.We urge the U.S. side to commit to the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiqués with concrete actions, make the right choice as early as possible, fundamentally remove the biggest obstacle to China-U.S. relations, which is the Taiwan question, a burden that risks dragging our two countries into confrontation and conflict, and open up broader room for developing bilateral ties.