No promise to renounce use of force: China on Taiwan unification

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China has said it makes “no promise” to renounce the use of force in unifying Taiwan with its mainland, according to an official statement.

“Taiwan is part of China,” Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu told his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen in a meeting on Thursday, the statement released by the Defense Ministry said.

“China will strive for a peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost effort as always,” Li added.

Beijing considers Taiwan as its “breakaway province” while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949, maintaining independent diplomatic relations with 13 nations.

“We will never allow Taiwan's (ruling) Democratic Progressive Party authorities to court foreign support for the so-called 'Taiwan independence,' nor allow the external forces to use Taiwan as a pawn to contain China. We make no promise to renounce the use of force,” Li stressed.

In recent years, the US has increased its engagements with the island nation of around 24 million people.

Washington has supplied arms to Taiwan for billions of dollars, and Washington and Taipei signed an agreement on Thursday to boost bilateral trade.

Dubbed the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, Taipei called it an "effort to deepen the economic and trade relationship" between the two sides.

"The two sides will now work toward the commencement of negotiations with the goal of reaching high-quality and economically meaningful trade agreements," a statement by Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations noted.

Meanwhile, China and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a “secure defense telephone link” between the two militaries.