China Warns US against Crossing “First Red Line” on Taiwan Issue

China condemned US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s meeting with recent Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and called the Taiwan issue the “first red line” that the United States should not cross with China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Taiwan issue is at the heart of China’s fundamental interests and cannot be discussed.

“Taiwan independence and peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are as incompatible as fire and water,” the statement said.

Representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry believe that the US permission for a transit flight of Tsai Ing-wen and a meeting with her is “connivance of the political activities of the Taiwanese separatists.” This, in their opinion, is a serious violation of the One China principle.