Chinese ambassador to the US, Qin Gang, says that China and the United States might find themselves embroiled in military conflict over Taiwan. That statement came in an interview he gave to National Public Radio on Friday.
Qin said that the two countries will “most likely” find themselves engaged in military conflict if the Taiwanese authorities, “emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence”.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council responded to the statement on Saturday, saying that Chinese officials are trying hard to hinder exchanges between Taiwan and the United States, as well as rationalize Chinese provocations against Taiwan. The council says that Taiwan’s government is committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty and democracy. It will also continue to deepen relations with like-minded democracies, as well as strive for peace in the Taiwan Strait and the region.
In the United States, Qin’s statement prompted strong reactions. Representative Tom Tiffany has called for the ambassador to be expelled from the country, while Representative Michelle Steel proposed an amendment to the America COMPETES Act that advocates resumption of formal diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the United States.