China’s foreign minister warns against interference in Taiwan

April 21 2023
By Joe Leahy in Shanghai and Christian Davies in Seoul

China’s foreign minister Qin Gang has warned of “dangerous” consequences for countries that intervene in Taiwan, saying “those who play with fire . . . will eventually get burned” amid heightened tensions over the island nation.

Qin’s remarks came after South Korea’s president accused Beijing this week of “attempts to change the status quo” on Taiwan “by force” and as the US and Philippines conducted their largest joint military exercises in more than three decades in the region.

Tensions have escalated between China and countries including the US over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory and has threatened to conquer. US lawmakers have called for more arms sales to Taiwan to enable it to defend itself from an attack by China. China held three days of military drills around Taiwan this month in response to a meeting between the country’s president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, the highest-profile meeting between US and Taiwanese officials on American soil.

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