China yesterday urged the world to stop drawing parallels between Taiwan and Ukraine, part of Beijing’s efforts to distance itself from Russia and portray itself as a neutral force for peace.
“China is deeply worried about the escalation of the Ukraine conflict and it possibly spiraling out of control,” Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Gang (秦剛) said in remarks in Beijing to roll out Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) new “Global Security Initiative.”
“We urge certain countries to immediately stop fueling the fire, stop shifting blame to China and stop touting ‘Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow,’” Qin added.
Photo: Reuters
China in the past few days has stepped up efforts to draw a distinction between Ukraine and Taiwan, while rejecting US claims that it is privately considering providing weapons to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.
Beijing plans to unveil a peace proposal in the coming days, an initiative met with skepticism among the US and its allies.
China’s stance has generated concern in the US and Europe.
Asked at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend whether China could reassure that audience that there would be no attack on Taiwan, Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Wang Yi (王毅) said that peace would hinge on opposing independence forces in Taiwan.
“It was never a country and it will absolutely not be a country as well,” Wang said of Taiwan. “That is the true reality of the Taiwan issue.”
Meanwhile, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly on Monday said he had spoken with Qin and discussed the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
“I raised China’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang & the need for peace in the Taiwan Strait,” Cleverly wrote on Twitter. “We also agreed to work together to resolve issues on climate and trade.”
Qin, who was appointed as foreign minister in December last year, told Cleverly that China poses no challenge or threat to Britain, Xinhua news agency reported.
Qin said that a sound China-Britain relationship not only serves both of their interests, but also contributes to world peace and development, Xinhua said.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
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