Q: Recently, US Secretary of State Pompeo announced the lifting of "self-imposed restrictions on the US-Taiwan relationship". Some US diplomats can't wait to make their move.  What's your comment?

A: China strongly rejects and condemns the US move. 

There is but one China in the world; the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China; Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. This is a fact recognized by the international community and a basic norm of international relations. The US government has made a solemn commitment to the Chinese side on the question of Taiwan. The China-US Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, released on December 16, 1978, clearly stipulates that "The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan." The United States should honor its commitment and not misinterpret or deviate from it under any pretext. 

The one-China principle is the political foundation of bilateral relations and the precondition for establishing and developing diplomatic relations. China firmly opposes any forms of official contacts between the United States and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear. "Whoever plays with fire will burn himself." 

We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop manipulating Taiwan-related issues, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations, and stop going further down the wrong path.