China reiterates stance on peaceful unification with Taiwan 

China says it will continue to work for “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan and pledged to take forceful steps to oppose any external interference.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who made the statement in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, said China would combat “separatist activities” toward Taiwan’s independence while taking forceful steps to oppose any external interference.

“Only by resolutely forestalling separatist activities can we forge a true foundation for peaceful reunification. 

 “Only when China is completely reunified, can there be enduring peace across the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

His comments come a day after a 90-minute-long meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York, their first talks since Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August.

After the meeting, China accused the United States of sending “very wrong, dangerous signals” on Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan soared after a visit in August by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Pelosi’s visit was followed by large-scale Chinese military drills and a pledge by U.S. President Joe Biden to defend the Chinese-claimed island.

Weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February, he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping declared a “no limits” partnership, inking a promise to collaborate more against the West.

Playing with fire

Putin’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in his address to the UN General Assembly targeted Washington’s Taiwan stance as well as the Western sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

“They’re playing with fire around Taiwan. On top of that, they’re promising military support to Taiwan,” Lavrov said.

Putin explicitly backs China over Taiwan. “We intend to firmly adhere to the principle of ‘One China.

 “We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait,” Putin said last week.

Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week acknowledged China’s leader Xi Jinping’s concerns about the war in Ukraine.

Wang said China supported all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the “crisis” in Ukraine but cautioned against a potential spillover of the war.

“The fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective, and sustainable security architecture.

 “We call on all parties concerned to keep the crisis from spilling over and protect the legitimate rights and the interests of developing countries,” Wang said in his address.

China has criticized Western sanctions against Russia but stopped short of endorsing or assisting in the military campaign.

Zainab Sa’id