Q: On August 5, 2022, the EU High Representative said at the ASEAN Regional Forum that the EU has a clear interest in the preservation of peace and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and it is concerned by the actions of China which fired ballistic missiles overflying Taiwan and several of them landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. He added that these are highly worrying developments that lead to destabilisation and risk escalation and nobody should unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region. What’s your comment?

A: We express our serious concern with and strong disapproval of those remarks. Let me be clear on the following points：

First, the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait is entirely caused by the provocation from the United States and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. If the status quo in the Taiwan Strait has been changed, it is due to their unilateral actions and the blame should undoubtedly be laid at their doors, not at China’s. The Chinese side has long warned them about their collusion and possible consequences. It is only lawful and justified that China takes necessary measures to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to guard against secession. It is crystal clear that it was the US and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces that made the provocations first, and China has been compelled to act in self-defense. No country could push China around and we will hit back when they attempt to do so. We have given our warnings and we will not hesitate to follow them through.

Second, as for the claim that China fired ballistic missiles which overflied Taiwan and several of which landed in “Japan’s EEZ”, I want to make it clear that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and China enjoys undeniable sovereignty over it, which brooks no external interference. China and Japan have not carried out maritime delimitation in relevant waters. China never recognizes that the place where some missiles landed belongs to “Japan’s EEZ”.

Third, we have informed the EU in advance about the consequences of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and the provocations from the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. The responsibility for the current situation lies entirely with the US side. Instead of discouraging it, the EU has joined the G7 statement and now makes inappropriate remarks by calling black white. At this moment, the EU’s call for calm, restraint and avoiding escalation could only be seen as an unprincipled connivance to the perpetrators and provocateurs. We will never accept it, because it lacks the least fairness and justice. If the EU is indeed concerned about the damage to its interests, it should clearly and openly oppose the intervention of external forces and the provocation from the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

Last but not least, it is natural for any country to take necessary actions when its sovereignty and territorial integrity are provoked. This is the case with China, and I believe the EU is no exception. The UN Charter has clear provisions on respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity and refraining from interfering in other’s internal affairs. If the EU still takes the UN Charter seriously and has not cast aside entirely the concept of respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, then it should earnestly respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from meddling in China's internal affairs. The commitment made by the European Community when it established diplomatic relations with China serves the political foundation of China-EU relations. It makes no sense both legally and politically to talk about the Taiwan question without taking account of the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity.