China has protested to the US after Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington hoisted a Taiwanese flag on New Year’s Day, urging the US to respect the “one China” policy, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
The US Department of State said that it had not been notified in advance of the ceremony and that it was inconsistent with US policy.
The ceremony in Washington was the first time the Republic of China flag had been raised in the US in the 36 years since Washington switched recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 1979.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony on Thursday, including Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡), according to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington.
“We resolutely oppose the so-called flag-raising ceremony by Taiwan’s agency in the United States and have lodged solemn representations with the United States,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying (華春瑩) told a daily news briefing.
Hua called on the US to abide by the “one China” policy and “prudently and properly handle” any issues relating to Taiwan to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The incident is the latest involving Taiwan to roil relations between the US and China. Beijing lodged a protest with the US last month after US President Barack Obama signed into law legislation authorizing the sale of up to four Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan.
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