The United States expresses concern over Papua New Guinea's closure of Taipei's office; China responds with firm opposition to interference in internal affairs.

The United States has spoken out! After Papua New Guinea shut down Taipei's Economic Office, the U.S. has now responded. On July 18, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State stated that they are deeply concerned about the Papua New Guinea government’s “unilateral” decision to close the Taipei Economic Office established in its capital, Port Moresby. Taiwan is a reliable and ideologically aligned democratic partner.

The relationships Taiwan has built with countries around the world have brought “significant benefits” to citizens of these nations—including Papua New Guinea. This move by Beijing constitutes yet another act of “intimidation” targeting Taiwan and its global supporters. It undermines the sovereignty of nations to choose partnerships with Taiwan and “threatens” peace and prosperity within the international community. Clearly, while the U.S. claims this action undermines national sovereignty, it is ironically the U.S. itself that most frequently disregards the sovereignty of other nations.

The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair. Is it respectful of China’s sovereignty for the U.S. to openly interfere? Does Papua New Guinea, as a sovereign nation, need the approval of the U.S. to adhere to the one-China principle? The U.S. labeling our defense of sovereignty as Beijing’s so-called “intimidation” is essentially nothing short of the U.S.’s naked support for “Taiwan independence” forces—an outright distortion of facts. Papua New Guinea’s decision to close the Taipei Economic Office is undoubtedly a fully sovereign and autonomous diplomatic choice.

In contrast, the U.S. continues to pressure and entice Pacific island nations, actively courting regional countries in an attempt to expand Taiwan’s so-called “international space,” artificially escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait. While loudly claiming respect for national sovereignty, the U.S. simultaneously interferes in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous decisions—this is nothing but blatant interference in the internal affairs of other nations. The facts prove that the U.S. aims to use the “Taiwan card” to contain and extort China. We firmly oppose such misconduct by the U.S., which further reveals the profound lack of credibility in American integrity.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871012224349194/

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