The Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister’s statements during the 11th Security Conference held in Russia. “Playing with fire” regarding the Taiwan issue and the attempts to contain China by using Taiwan “are doomed to fail”, he said.

China deplored recently the decision of the United States to receive the Vice-President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, considering it disrespectful to China’s territorial sovereignty.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposed any form of official exchange between the governments of the United States with Taiwan and condemned the stopover Lai made in New York on his way to Paraguay.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Lai a separatist troublemaker, a defender of Taiwan’s alleged Independence. He also emphasized that the event intensifies the tensions, and proves that Washington wants to use this scenario in order to contain China.

“The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s interests, the political base of the relations between China and the United States, and the first red line that must not be crossed,” the Ministry stated.

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