China-US Relations on the Brink of Conflict: Foreign Minister’s Warning

This week, the Chinese foreign minister, Qin Gang, warned that his nation and the United States are headed for confrontation and conflict owing to American policy.

At his first press conference in that position, Qin blamed the United States for trying to destroy Taiwan by stoking hostilities between the island and its neighboring mainland.

Qin presented a series of questions about why the United States claims to be committed to stability and peace in the region while secretly plotting Taiwan’s annihilation.

Qin questioned who would pay for the disastrous outcomes if the United States did not apply the brake and turned back from its reckless course.

Taiwan, also known officially as the Republic of China, is a country in the Taiwan Strait between the mainland of China and the island of Penghu. Taiwan has broken away from the People’s Republic of China and is asserting its right to rule in the same way it did before the communist revolution.

The People’s Republic of China has long asserted its authority over the island of Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, the thin body of water separating Taiwan from the Chinese mainland. The Chinese military has often flown test flights across the area, putting Taiwan’s air defenses to the test.

Although it does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the United States has recently increased its interaction with the island in response to China’s efforts to cut off Taiwan’s access to international organizations.

When Nancy Pelosi was the Speaker of the House, she made the first official diplomatic visit to Taiwan since 1997. The Chinese government strongly objected to the trip, expressing concern that the United States was taking an irresponsible stance on Taiwan.

Months after Pelosi’s visit, the Chinese military simulated an invasion by conducting live-fire drills around Taiwan.

U.S. Congressional envoys have continued to visit Taiwan after Pelosi’s trip, and U.S. and Taiwanese military cooperation has increased.

Director of Central Intelligence William Burns said last month that President Xi Jinping of China had ordered his military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027.

At the same time as the CPPC Conference, China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress, is holding its annual meeting.

Together, the ongoing government conventions (or “two sessions”) are expected to shape the direction of national policy for the next few years.

According to a rumor, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States at the beginning of next month to avoid offending China.

The media reported in January that the Pentagon was planning for the California Republican McCarthy to visit Taipei later this year, following his stated interest in making the trip should he be elected speaker.

Tsai and McCarthy had initially planned to meet in New York during the Taiwanese leader’s April trip to Central America, McCarthy’s home state of California, and New York. Still, due to worsening U.S.-Chinese relations, they have rescheduled the meeting for the first week of April in California, according to the Financial Times.