BEIJING: China warned Taiwan Friday that relying on the United States to help it seek independence “will inevitably hit a wall,” as Beijing took aim at a Pacific tour by the self-ruled island’s President Lai Ching-te this week.
Lai’s trip, which has included two stops on US soil, has drawn a barrage of criticism from China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island.
Lai this week held a phone call with US Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, which also angered Beijing.
“Seeking independence with the help of the United States will inevitably hit a wall, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday.
He added that China has “lodged solemn representations” with Washington and urged it to “stop emptying and gutting the one-China principle.”
Asked about Lai’s comment on Friday that he was “confident” that Taiwan would deepen cooperation with incoming US president Donald Trump, Lin warned the United States to “cease meddling in Taiwan-related affairs.”
During a Friday press conference, Lai also urged democracies to be “more united” to counter growing authoritarianism.
He also insisted that Taiwan and China were “not subordinate to each other.”
Asked to respond to the latter, Lin said that “separatist activities... are the biggest threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
“No matter what they say or do, they cannot change the objective fact that Taiwan is part of China, nor can they stop the historical trend that China... will inevitably reunify,” he added.
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China warns Taiwan relying on US for independence will ‘inevitably hit a wall’
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China warns Taiwan relying on US for independence will ‘inevitably hit a wall’
- Beijing takes aim at a Pacific tour by the self-ruled island’s President Lai Ching-te
- Lai’s trip, which has included two stops on US soil, draws criticism from China
US-Israel attacks on Iran breach international law, Swiss defense minister says
- Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister is the latest European leader to raise concerns about the conflict
- Pfister said he was referring to all the countries not complying with the prohibition on violence
ZURICH/FRANKFURT: The United States and Israel have broken international law with their attacks on Iran, Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister said in an interview published on Sunday, the latest European leader to raise concerns about the conflict.
Legal experts have said many countries will consider the attacks unjustified under the United Nations Charter, under which member countries must refrain from using force or the threat of force without UN authorization or unless acting in self-defense.
“The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law,” Pfister told SonntagsZeitung, referring to the Swiss cabinet.
“In our view it constitutes a violation on the prohibition of violence,” he added, calling on all parties involved to halt the fighting to protect the civilian population.
Violation of international law
Pfister said he was referring to all the countries not complying with the prohibition on violence, including the United States and Israel.
“The Americans and Israel have attacked Iran from the air. In doing so, they, like Iran, violated international law,” Pfister said.
The comments chime with those of German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who told the RND newspaper network that he had “serious doubts that this war is legitimate under international law.”
Klingbeil also came out strongly against the idea of any potential German participation in the war: “I say clearly: this is not our war. We will not participate in this war.”
He said there was a “great danger that we are sliding ever deeper into a world where there are no longer any rules. We do not want to live in a world where only the law of the strongest applies.”
Spain has also denounced the US and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal.
Legal experts have said many countries will consider the attacks unjustified under the United Nations Charter, under which member countries must refrain from using force or the threat of force without UN authorization or unless acting in self-defense.
“The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law,” Pfister told SonntagsZeitung, referring to the Swiss cabinet.
“In our view it constitutes a violation on the prohibition of violence,” he added, calling on all parties involved to halt the fighting to protect the civilian population.
Violation of international law
Pfister said he was referring to all the countries not complying with the prohibition on violence, including the United States and Israel.
“The Americans and Israel have attacked Iran from the air. In doing so, they, like Iran, violated international law,” Pfister said.
The comments chime with those of German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who told the RND newspaper network that he had “serious doubts that this war is legitimate under international law.”
Klingbeil also came out strongly against the idea of any potential German participation in the war: “I say clearly: this is not our war. We will not participate in this war.”
He said there was a “great danger that we are sliding ever deeper into a world where there are no longer any rules. We do not want to live in a world where only the law of the strongest applies.”
Spain has also denounced the US and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal.
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