On August 4, 2022, Mr. WANG Sheng, Charge d’Affaires, a.i. of the Embassy of China in Cyprus received an interview by Astra 92.8 Radio and answered questions reagrding the US House Speaker Pelosi’s Visit to China’s Taiwan Region. Please read the full text as follows:

1. Can you describe the situation as it is now in Taiwan?

The Taiwan Strait is facing a new round of tensions and severe challenges. In disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region. This seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, dealt a heavy blow to the political foundation of China-US relations, severely infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sent a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence". China firmly opposes and sternly condemns this visit. The tensions were not caused by China. They were fundamentally the result of the repeated moves by the Taiwan authorities and the US to change the status quo. The Taiwan authorities have kept seeking US support for their independence agenda. They refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus, go all out to promote "incremental independence". The US, for its part, has been attempting to use Taiwan to contain China, by stepping up its official exchanges with Taiwan, and emboldening "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. These fire-playing moves are extremely dangerous. China’s countermeasures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity were reasonable and necessary.

2. How did this new tension arise in already difficult US-China relations?

The Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue at the very heart of China-US relations. The one-China principle forms the political basis for China’s relations with the US and other countries. It is a red line and bottom line that cannot be crossed. The US acts in bad faith on the Taiwan question, keeps challenging China’s sovereignty, blatantly upgrading its substantive relations with Taiwan, undermining the political basis of China-US relations. The Chinese people will by no means accept it. China has only been legitimately defending itself against the collusion and provocations of the US and Taiwan authorities. It is the legitimate right of any sovereign state to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US has shown the world what a bully it is. This will only make people of all countries see more clearly that the US is the biggest destroyer of peace today. We want to make it clear to the US, that it must stop playing the “Taiwan Card”, stop containing China through Taiwan, and stop moving further down the wrong path.

3. Is China worried about a potential war?

The Chinese people cherish peace. Since its founding, the People's Republic of China has never initiated a war or conflict, nor has it invaded an inch of other countries' territory. We will never engage in aggression or expansion, but we have full confidence to defeat any forms of aggression. The Chinese people are fearless and dauntless. China will not allow any individual, organization, or political party to sever any part of Chinese territory from the country at any time, in any form. No one should undermine our sovereignty, security and development interests and expect us to swallow the bitter pill. If you search China's social media now, or randomly interview a Chinese on the street, what you will find is that they are not worried, but indignated and steadfast. They all believe that the Chinese Government has absolutely strong determination and capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

4. Do you think the US fears the rise of China as the new hegemon?

Yes, true. But their fears are groundless and unnecessary. China is well known to be a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. As I mentioned, China has never invaded any country or launched a proxy war, never joined or created any military bloc. It’s China’s consistent stance that all countries, big or small, are equal and should respect each other to achieve win-win cooperation. Our Cypriot friends could easily tell this through many years of friendly interaction and cooperation with China. The goal of China’s development is to improve the lives of the Chinese people. China will never seek hegemony and has no interest in challenging or replacing anyone.

5. Could Taiwan be the new "Ukraine"?

Taiwan is not Ukraine. The Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are different in nature. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, not a sovereign state, just as the occupied area of Cyprus is an inalienable part of Cyprus and the self-proclaimed “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” has never been recognized by the international community. The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair that allows no interference. China will unwaveringly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In addition, I have to say that some countries keep calling for respect for sovereignty on the Ukraine issue, while repeatedly challenging and infringing up on China’s sovereignty on the Taiwan question. Such despicable practice of double standards is a main cause behind the current out-of-sequence in international order as well as increasing international conflicts.