China lodges representations with U.S. over Taiwan leader's transit

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:26, October 28, 2017

BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. over Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's planned transit through its territory to and from three Pacific island nations, a spokesperson said on Friday.

Tsai reportedly departs on Saturday on a week-long trip to three states Taiwan has official relations with - Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands - by transiting via Honolulu and Guam.

China has long opposed Taiwan forming diplomatic relations with other countries, as Taiwan is part of Chinese territory.

"The one-China principle is the common consensus of the international community and the principle to adhere to when dealing with Taiwan's external exchanges," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular news briefing.

"As for the Taiwan leader's transit via the U.S., her real purpose is self-evident," Geng said.

China hopes the U.S. will honor its commitment to the one-China policy and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, not to allow Tsai's transit or send any wrong message to the pro-Taiwan independence forces, Geng said.

The spokesperson said the U.S. should work to maintain the big picture of bilateral relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.