China bans American, Asian institutions in protest against President’s visit to Taiwan

China has imposed sanctions on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other US and Asia-based institutions in protest of a key meeting this week between US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. A day earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping said it was a “fantasy casserole” that Beijing would compromise its stand on Taiwan. Sai’s meeting with McCarthy took place on Thursday despite strong opposition from China. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California is the site of high-level meetings.

McCarthy hosted a bipartisan meeting here this week to discuss talks with Taiwan’s President Tsai. This was the second high-level meeting between the President of Taiwan and US officials. The meeting comes at a time when US-China relations have reached a historic low and tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated. China views any official dialogue between the governments of other countries and Taiwan as an attempt to elevate Taipei’s global status, therefore it regards such efforts as a violation of its sovereignty claims on Taiwan.

China has also banned the Hudson Institute which hosted an event and honored Sai with the Global Leadership Award on March 30. The banned groups include Asia-based groups—’The Prospect Foundation’ and the ‘Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats’—for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence. Chinese President Xi said in a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday, “The Taiwan issue is at the center of China’s core interests. The Chinese government and the Chinese people will never agree to the opinion of those who make noise on the issue of ‘One-China’ policy.

This was China’s first reaction after the meeting between McCarthy and Tsai. “Whoever expects China to compromise its position on Taiwan is cooking a pot of soup,” Xi said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Leyen said the Taiwan issue was discussed and told Xi that “threats to use force to change the status quo are unacceptable.” It is important that tensions should be resolved through dialogue.

On Friday’s sanctions, the foreign ministry in Beijing said both US institutions were banned from exchanges, cooperation and other activities with any individuals, universities or institutions in China. China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference, “We want to emphasize that China will take firm measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Support Taiwan in name and use Taiwan question to stop China. This step is dangerous and it is not seen anywhere.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.

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