China Is Angry As US Invites Taiwan To Its Democracy Summit

The foreign ministry of China said it is "firmly opposed" to the invite to Taiwan, days after President Xi Jinping said those seeking independence of Taiwan were ‘playing with fire’.

File image of US President Joe Biden participating in a virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 15, 2021 | Photo: Getty

New Delhi: With the United States hosting a "Summit for Democracy" next month, the Joe Biden administration’s decision to invite Taiwan, among 110 other countries, appears to have left China infuriated. The Asian giant views Taiwan, a democratically governed island, as “an inalienable part of Chinese territory”.

The foreign ministry of China said it was "firmly opposed" to the invite to Taiwan.

"U.S. actions only go to show democracy is just a cover and a tool for it to advance its geopolitical objectives, oppress other countries, divide the world and serve its own interests," ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, Reuters reported.

He also said: “China firmly opposes the US invitation to the Taiwan authorities to participate in the so-called Summit for Democracy.” 

The virtual summit will take place on December 9 and 10. According to information available on the US State Department website, the invitee list includes India, Iraq, and Pakistan, besides the western allies, but excludes China, and also Russia.

The summit aims to “tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action”, the State Department said.

According to the Reuters report, Taiwan’s government would be represented by Digital Minister Audrey Tang and de facto ambassador in Washington Hsiao Bi-khim.

"Our country's invitation to participate in the 'Summit for Democracy' is an affirmation of Taiwan's efforts to promote the values of democracy and human rights over the years," the foreign ministry said.

‘Playing With Fire’

While Beijing claims there is only “one China” and Taiwan is part of it, Taipei says China doesn’t have any right to speak for it.

The US invite to Taiwan comes at a time when China is asking countries to downgrade or sever relations with the self-governed island, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, differences over Taiwan persisted during Biden’s virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Biden said he "strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", according to the White House.

China’s state news agency Xinhua, meanwhile, reported that Xi said those seeking independence of Taiwan were "playing with fire".