BEIJING: China said yesterday it had lodged a protest with the United States over President Barack Obama’s signing of legislation expressing US support for Taiwan’s campaign to attend meetings of a UN civil aviation body.
The bill supporting Taiwan’s bid for observer status with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN agency that promotes safe air travel, easily passed both chambers of the US Congress in June.
China claims Taiwan as a wayward province though the two sides have been governed separately since defeated Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war.
China says it alone has the right to represent Taiwan internationally, like at the United Nations, though it has made exceptions for membership of some bodies, such as the World Trade Organisation, as long as the island is identified as “Chinese Taipei”.
“The joining of international organisations like ICAO by Taiwan compatriots is a matter for the Chinese people,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.
“China opposes any foreign government, group or individual poking their nose in,” she added.
The actions by the United States run contrary to the “one-China” principle and China has “lodged stern representations with the United States side”, Hua said.
“We urge the United States to strictly abide by its promises to the Chinese side on the Taiwan issue and cautiously and appropriately handle matters related to Taiwan and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.” he added.
Most countries, including the United States, follow the “one-China” policy of officially recognising Beijing and shunning formal ties with Taiwan.
REUTERS
