Chinese official snaps at reporter: ‘There is not any such factor as a Taiwanese president’

A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official gave a terse correction to a Western reporter on Thursday, rebuking their query in regards to the “Taiwanese president.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin fielded questions from journalists Thursday at a press convention in Beijing.

A reporter with United Kingdom-based outlet Reuters requested Wang, “Taiwanese officers have stated {that a} potential assembly between Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continues to be being organized. What’s China’s response?”

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin gestures throughout a press convention on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. (NOEL CELIS/AFP by way of Getty Images)

Wang pushed again on the query, responding, “I have to right you first. Taiwan is an inalienable a part of China and there’s no such factor as ‘Taiwanese president.'”

Taiwan cut up from China in 1949 after a civil struggle. The solely connection between the 2 nations is billions of {dollars} in commerce and funding. 

Mainland China doesn’t acknowledge Taiwan independence and desires it to formally unite with the mainland. 

CHINA INSISTS IT IS IMPARTIAL ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE, QUESTIONS US ‘POURING WEAPONS INTO THE CONFLICT’

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a information convention on the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan. ( Lam Yik Fei/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images)

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is predicted to go to the United States within the coming weeks throughout a multinational journey. 

Taiwan’s Office of the President confirmed Tuesday that the go to is presently scheduled for March 30. 

After the US, Tsai is predicted to go to Guatemala and Belize. Finally, on April 5, she is predicted to cease once more within the US and go to Los Angeles earlier than returning to Taiwan.

CHINA SAYS IT’S READY TO WORK WITH US FOR UKRAINIAN PEACE: ‘ASK THE US SIDE’

In this picture launched by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, heart, meet with a U.S. delegation led by California Rep. Ro Khanna, third from left throughout a gathering on the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Taiwan Presidential Office by way of AP)

After correcting the reporter, Wang addressed the diplomatic journey, saying, “We wish to reiterate that we strongly oppose any type of official interplay between the US and Taiwan, strongly oppose any US go to by the chief of the Taiwan authorities whatever the rationale or pretext, and strongly oppose all types of US contact with the Taiwan authorities, which violates the one-China precept. China has made robust démarches to the US facet on this matter.”

Tsai beforehand transited by way of the United States six occasions between 2016 and 2019 earlier than slowing worldwide journey with the coronavirus pandemic. In response to these visits, China rhetorically lashed out towards the U.S. and Taiwan.

“The reported journey shouldn’t be a lot a ‘transit,’ however an try to hunt breakthroughs and propagate ‘Taiwan independence,’” Wang continued.

A People’s Liberation Army member appears to be like by way of binoculars throughout army workouts as Taiwan’s frigate Lan Yang is seen on the rear. (Lin Jian/Xinhua by way of AP)

He concluded, “We urge the US to abide by the one-China precept and the three China-US joint communiqués, earnestly ship on its leaders’ dedication of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ or ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’, cease all types of official interplay with Taiwan, cease upgrading its substantive exchanges with the area, and cease fudging and hollowing out the one-China precept.”