China on Thursday urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) to abide by the spirit of the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, follow the one-China principle and be prudent on the Taiwan question.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol's claim during an interview with Reuters that his country vows to work with the international community to oppose attempts to change the status quo of the Taiwan Straits by force.
There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, said Wang.
The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, and it is at the core of China's core interests, he noted, adding that resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese themselves and no foreign force should try to interfere in it.
He pointed out that the tensions in recent years in the Taiwan Straits are fundamentally caused by "Taiwan independence" separatists in Taiwan, who are engaged in separatist activities with the support and connivance of foreign forces.
Noting "Taiwan independence" and cross-Straits peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water, he said it is essential to unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference to keep the Taiwan Straits and the rest of the region peaceful and stable.
Wang stressed that as both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the ROK are sovereign nations recognized as members by the United Nations, the nature and context of the Korean Peninsula issue and the Taiwan question are completely different, which cannot be compared.
