London, 11 August 2022 (TDI): Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Zheng Zeguang met with senior officials from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. The meeting took place on Wednesday, 10 August.
UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Trus met the Chinese Ambassador. They discussed Beijing’s response over the last week in reaction to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Today @AmbZhengZeguang met w/ senior FCDO official & firmly rejected & strongly condemned UK side’s irresponsible rhetoric about China’s legitimate & necessary response to US House Speaker’s Taiwan visit. He refuted so-called concern of UK side over China’s military drills.
— Chinese Embassy in UK (@ChineseEmbinUK) August 10, 2022
Remarks of the Chinese Ambassador
Ambassador Zheng significantly lodged solemn representations to the UK side on the latter’s wrong remarks and deeds on the question of Taiwan.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the UK has paid no respect to facts and confused right and wrong by making irresponsible remarks. These actions have been observed on various occasions against China’s legitimate measures of national security and territorial integrity.
The Chinese side firmly opposes and strongly condemns this. Ambassador Zheng also stressed that Taiwan is a province of China and the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair.
The Chinese military drills in the waters and air around Taiwan Island are legitimate. He further mentioned that these are necessary measures to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
No country is entitled to make irresponsible comments on these measures. China has never started a single war. China’s development contributes to the forces for peace and reinforces the factors for stability.
Highlighting provocative actions of the US
Ambassador Zheng said it was the US side in collusion with the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces that stirred up the tensions.
The visit by Nancy Pelosi to China’s Taiwan region is in no way a so-called “normal”, “routine” visit. It significantly violated the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiqués and seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Moreover, the Chinese Ambassador stated that the Chinese side has every right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its integrity. China has the right to oppose any interference by foreign countries.
He also mentioned that the US has been playing the “Taiwan card” to contain China by approving arms sales to Taiwan.
UK should condemn the US and Taiwan authorities and stop them from making provocations and “playing with fire”.
He further mentioned that the country should also check its own remarks and deeds to avoid sending wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” forces.
It must stop making irresponsible remarks on China’s legitimate measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
