Question from the media: Global Affairs Canada issued a statement regarding China’s military drills near the Taiwan Island, stating that Canada opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to the security and prosperity of the international community. What is China’s response?

Answer: The Statement by the Canadian side slams China for its just and necessary action to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is absolute hypocrisy and distortion. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The military drills by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army are a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek “Taiwan independence”, a stern warning to external interference forces and a necessary move to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The fundamental status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, and the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is “Taiwan independence” forces’ separatist activities and external connivance and support for these activities. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations and the political foundation for China-Canada relations. We strongly urge the Canadian side to abide by its commitment to one China and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.