Recent statements by the elected President of the United States regarding his administration's policy towards 'One China' and the Taiwan issue have elicited reactions from Chinese state media. A major publication affiliated with the ruling party in China has warned that Beijing could also support 'America's enemies'. Donald Trump, in an interview aired on December 12 by Fox News, suggested that his country might abandon the 'One China' policy, which effectively does not recognize Taiwan's independence, if Beijing does not cooperate in other areas. Trump's remarks, made shortly after his phone conversation with the President of Taiwan, were met with responses from Chinese state media just hours later. Global Times, a Chinese and English-language publication affiliated with People's Daily (the organ of the Communist Party), known for its provocative statements, was quick to respond. AFP translated part of a recent article from this newspaper, stating that if the United States abandons its decades-long policy on 'One China' and supports Taiwan as an independent country, Beijing could openly and covertly sell weapons to America's enemies. The article was published in Chinese on December 13. The tone used in the article appears to be harsher than previous instances. For example, the English version of Global Times mentioned last week the need to increase military readiness concerning Taiwan and prepare to 'punish' anyone who 'demands independence' for it. The newspaper also called on the government to invest in strengthening strategic nuclear weapons and advanced ballistic missiles. The English version of Global Times also published an interview on Monday with a professor from the 'Foreign Relations University', affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Li Haidong, the professor, stated that 'Trump's focus is on domestic issues in America, and he likely does not think deeply about diplomatic matters.' Haidong also mentioned that the elected President of the United States is a 'businessman', but 'not everything can be negotiated'. The Chinese version of Global Times focuses more on international issues, while the English version primarily addresses China's internal positions and issues. The Chinese government has not yet officially responded to Trump's statements.
Chinese State Newspaper Says 'Beijing Can Also Sell Weapons to America's Enemies'
Chinese state media reacted strongly to Donald Trump's comments about potentially abandoning the 'One China' policy if Beijing does not cooperate. The Global Times warned that China could support America's enemies by selling them weapons if the U.S. recognizes Taiwan's independence. This escalation in rhetoric highlights the increasing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding Taiwan.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Chinese state media reacted strongly to Donald Trump's suggestion of potentially abandoning the 'One China' policy, warning that China might sell weapons to America's enemies. This response followed Trump's comments about recognizing Taiwan's independence if China does not cooperate on other issues.
- Trump suggested abandoning the 'One China' policy.
- Global Times warned of potential Chinese arms sales to U.S. adversaries.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The 'One China' policy has been a cornerstone of U.S.-China relations, acknowledging Beijing's claim over Taiwan while maintaining unofficial ties with Taipei.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%