In a video later posted online, Cui did not comment on Donald Trump’s chances of winning, but said he hoped the U.S. government would consider the interests of Asia-Pacific countries, including China. said.
Cui, who is currently an adviser to the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Relations, also said that Asia-Pacific countries should work to prevent regional tensions from escalating to Cold War levels, or else “a dangerous decade will continue.” ”, he said.
Cui was the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the United States since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1979, serving in the role for more than eight years before retiring in 2021.
He concluded his remarks by mentioning that Taiwan, which the Chinese government considers part of its territory, will be brought under mainland control by force if necessary.
Mr. Cui said that Taiwan’s recent elections were “China’s local elections.” “We will achieve reunification in some form,” he added, “but in a way that best suits the national interests of the entire Chinese nation.”
Like most countries, the United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state. However, the United States opposes changes to the status quo on both sides of the strait and is committed to supplying arms to Taipei.
Choi said, in an apparent reference to Washington’s continued arms sales to Taiwan, that “someone is providing us with military aid, supplying weapons for proxy wars, allowing Chinese people to kill Chinese people.” They may be preparing for it.” We don’t fall into that trap. ”
Taiwan is one of the biggest sources of tension between China and the US and is the “most dangerous issue” in relations, President Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden at a summit in November.
At the San Francisco meeting, President Xi called for an end to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. However, the State Department approved a $300 million arms sale to the island in December.
President Xi tells Biden: “China will inevitably unify with Taiwan eventually”
President Xi tells Biden: “China will inevitably unify with Taiwan eventually”
Mr. Cui’s comments on January 25 came less than two weeks after Taiwan’s election of William Lai Ching-de of the independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party, who has been repeatedly described as a “stubborn separatist” by the Chinese government. .
Two days after Lai’s election, the Pacific island nation of Nauru, one of Taiwan’s few remaining allies, severed diplomatic relations with Taipei and switched recognition to China.