Cross Taiwan redline and risk ruining ties with the mainland

Leaders and politicians the world over know that Taiwan is a part of China and that both the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan island belong to one country, though there are exceptions such as former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In a recent Australian Broadcasting Corporation program, Pelosi lashed out at former Australian prime minister Paul Keating for saying Taiwan is a part of China and Australia should not get deeply involved in the China-containment strategy of the United States on the Taiwan question. Earlier, in the same ABC program, Keating had said that the US says it wants to protect Taiwan, but the fact is that the island is China's territory. He also warned that once war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the US will not fight with all its strength and when it pulls out suddenly, Australia will have to bear all the consequences for its involvement on the issue.

Keating's remarks triggered Pelosi's dissatisfaction. She claimed such words were "stupid and ridiculous" and not in the security interests of the Asia-Pacific region. Keating struck back, saying Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022 was "reckless and capricious" and threatened to trigger a military confrontation between the US and China. In fact, President Joe Biden and the Pentagon had to warn Pelosi about the military risks involved in her visit, he said.

Discerning people will know who is right and who is wrong when it comes to Pelosi's and Keating's views on Taiwan. All major international documents and resolutions recognize that there is only one China, which is legally represented by the government of the People's Republic of China, and Taiwan is a part of China. Such a position is also held by a vast majority of countries, including the US and Australia. By reneging on this basic principle, any overseas politician stands to strain ties between his or her country and China.

When Pelosi stubbornly pressed ahead with her visit to Taiwan in 2022, she plunged relations between the world's two powers to a new low, while also endangering peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Taiwan question is relevant to China's core interests and it brooks no interference from any foreign country. No country can expect to continue to have good relations with China if it sabotages China's core interests.

The damage Pelosi's Taiwan visit has done to Sino-US relations is yet to be repaired and she should not continue to harm the ties with irresponsible, provocative and foolish statements. All politicians, including Pelosi, should come back to historical facts on the Taiwan question and do nothing to harm the interests of China and their countries.