China's vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng says China will never let Taiwan become independent as it demanded the U.S. and Japan stop intervening in its domestic affairs, reports said Monday.
The U.S. and Japan released a joint statement late last week outlining common goals for human rights and democracy. The two are concerned about China's activities in the Indo-Pacific region - which have become increasingly aggressive in recent years.
"The national reunification of...Taiwan and China is a historical process. It will not be stopped by anyone or any force. We will never let Taiwan go independent," Global Times quoted Le saying in an interview with The Associated Press.
According to Le, China is committed to protecting its national sovereignty, security and promoting national reunification. China is prepared to do everything it can to peacefully reunify Taiwan, he said. "No option is excluded," he said.
Le called the alliance between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga an "ironic attempt of stoking division" following the two leaders' first talks at the White House Friday.
"The U.S. should never try to play the Taiwan card. It's very dangerous. This is our red line. The U.S. should never try to cross it," Le said in addressing the contentious issue of Taiwan.
China analysts said the move by the U.S. and Japan would send the wrong signal only to the Taiwan separatists and allow the country's Democratic Progressive Party to go further down the wrong path.
While mindful of China's increasing influence in the area, Japan has traditionally avoided issuing any comments on Taiwan.
