This archive report was first published on 18 August 2021.
On the 39th anniversary of the August 17 Communique, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying urged the United States to abide by the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques.
According to Hua, the US has consistently breached its promises by conducting official exchanges with Taiwan and selling various kinds of weapons to the island, despite its commitments in the August 17 Communique.
Specifically, Hua cited multiple batches of arms sales to Taiwan by U.S. administrations, including a recent plan by the Biden administration to sell weaponry worth around $750 million.
“We’d like to try our best to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity, and at the same time, will reserve the option of taking all necessary countermeasures against foreign intervention, as well as a few ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionists and their activities,” said Hua.
She emphasized that no one should underestimate the firm determination, strong will, and powerful capabilities of the Chinese people in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On August 17, 2021, Hua urged the United States to clearly recognize the highly sensitive and harmful nature of the issue of arms sales to Taiwan, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques with concrete actions, stop official exchanges and military links with the island, cease arms sales to Taiwan, to avoid doing further damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
