China has expressed its disappointment over the visit by US Senators to Taiwan to donate coronavirus vaccines, pointing out that it could embolden ‘separatist forces’ on the island.
Beijing perceives democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory which is to be seized one day, by force if necessary, and rages at any diplomatic attempts to recognise it as an independent nation which the US has been quite uncomfortable with.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that a delegation of three US lawmakers made a stopover on Sunday in Taipei, where they announced Washington would donate 750,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to Taiwan.
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The gift came as Taiwan accuses China of hampering its efforts to secure vaccines, saying it is part of Beijing’s ongoing campaign to isolate the island.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China ‘expresses strong dissatisfaction (toward the visit) and has lodged a solemn representation’.
He also urged the United States to ‘be prudent when dealing with the Taiwan question and avoid sending any erroneous signals to separatist forces’ on the island.
China’s diplomats and official propaganda have in recent years encouraged an assertive, belligerent form of nationalism, with officials tweeting insults and conspiracy theories about diplomatic rivals and state TV gloating at the chaos caused by protests and coronavirus outbreaks abroad.
After years of increasingly bellicose language, President Xi Jinping last week called for a change in tone from China.
He urged the nation to show a softer face abroad, cultivating a ‘reliable, admirable and respectable image’.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK