Foreign Minister Qin Gang emphasised that Beijing is a “growing force for peace and justice” on Friday, warning that criticising China over Taiwan will have severe repercussions.
A meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy prompted China to organise three days of military drills surrounding Taiwan two weeks ago, simulating targeted strikes and a blockade of the island.
In his keynote address at a conference on Chinese modernization, Qin remarked, “Recently, there has been some ridiculous rhetoric accusing China… of unilaterally changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, through force or coercion, and of disrupting peace and stability across the Strait.”
Such allegations run against fundamental principles of historical justice and international relations, he told the Shanghai audience.
The conclusions are harmful and the rationale is nonsensical.
China declares Taiwan to be part of its territory and has made a long-term commitment to annex the island.
“We will never yield in the face of an action that jeopardises the security and sovereignty of China. On Taiwan, one will eventually get burned if one plays with fire.
A week after the largest-ever joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines in the South China Sea, another region of territorial contention for Beijing, Qin will travel to the Philippines.
A speech by Qin that frequently stressed China’s intentions to pursue peace ended with the words on Taiwan.
He claimed that when it came to upholding the fundamental rules of international relations, international law, and the goals and objectives of the UN charter, “we have the best track record.”
He emphasised Beijing’s standing as a mediator in the Ukraine crisis while highlighting China’s part in recent efforts to bring about a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
According to him, China is not escalating the conflict or profiting from it; rather, it is promoting peace negotiations to do just that.
The march of modernization in China has been demonstrated to be an increasing force for peace and justice.
The former president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, and the foreign minister of The Gambia, Mamadou Tangara, both spoke at the Lanting Forum.
According to Rousseff, “China has proposed a different path to modernization.”
She stressed the idea that there is no “one size fits all” development model, which was a theme that was reiterated throughout the forum’s opening ceremony.
