Ambassador Qin Gang Gives an Interview to CNN on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Visit to Taiwan

——China's sovereignty is inviolable, the Chinese people cannot be insulted, and China's unification is unstoppable

  At noon on August 2, Ambassador Qin Gang was interviewed by John King, the host of CNN's "Inside Politics" program, on the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China Express China's solemn position.

The interview transcript is as follows:

Kim:

Thank you Ambassador for accepting my interview at this important time.

The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is now in Taiwan.

China had previously told her not to go.

But she still went.

The White House said that shouldn't be a big deal.

Twenty-five years ago, then House Speaker Gingrich also visited Taiwan.

That's why the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response to this visit that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Our reporter just said that there will be military exercises overnight.

The White House says China has overreacted.

Why is this happening?

Ambassador Qin:

First of all, in response to the visit of the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China has repeatedly stated its firm and strong opposition to it through various channels and at all levels.

This visit is a major event in the escalation of substantive relations between the United States and Taiwan, sending a serious wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, seriously violating the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, seriously impacting the political foundation of Sino-US relations, and seriously infringing upon the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This is completely reckless provocation.

Kim:

I don't want to have a heated debate here. What you just stated is China's position, but Speaker Pelosi said that she is fulfilling the "Taiwan Relations Act".

I understand the situation is difficult, but Taiwan has a democratically elected "government".

Pelosi believes that she, as the number three person in the US government and the most powerful woman, is very important to support Taiwan at this time.

China can just let it go, low-key or even ignore it.

So the White House said that China is seeking provocation.

Ambassador Qin:

The Taiwan issue concerns China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, not a democratic issue.

Realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the firm will of all Chinese people.

Pelosi is not an ordinary person. She is the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the No. 3 political figure in the U.S. government.

Her visit to Taiwan in any form and at any time during her term of office is highly politically sensitive and will surely further escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait and Sino-US relations.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it.

  You mentioned that this is not the first time the Speaker of the US House of Representatives has visited Taiwan.

What I want to point out is that 25 years ago, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives Gingrich's visit to Taiwan was completely wrong, and China firmly opposed it from the very beginning.

The U.S. side should learn from it, instead of making mistakes over and over again.

The mistakes of the past cannot be used to justify the same mistakes of the present.

KING:

Pelosi said she looked around the world and saw Russia invading Ukraine and China reneging on its "one country, two systems" commitment to Hong Kong.

Therefore, the United States needs to publicly stand up and make it clear that the United States stands with the Taiwanese people and the democratically elected "Taiwanese government."

The Chinese government expresses its opposition and condemnation.

What countermeasures China will take will be a major issue.

Is China's ongoing military training to deter Taiwan?

Will cross-strait relations be disrupted?

Will mainland China impose sanctions on Taiwan?

How will this affect US-China relations?

Ambassador Qin:

The Taiwan issue cannot be confused with the Ukrainian crisis.

The Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests.

Some people in the US emphasize respect for a country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Ukraine issue, but why do they wantonly harm China's core interests and violate China's sovereignty and territorial integrity?

This is a double standard, and we firmly oppose it.

China has every right to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has every reason to take all necessary measures.

The current situation is entirely caused by the US side, and of course the US side should bear the responsibility.

Kim:

People have different opinions about who is in charge.

As our reporter mentioned, China has announced that it will launch a series of military operations.

Isn't this the risk of misjudgment and provocation?

Are the Chinese government and President Xi Jinping so determined to retake Taiwan?

Will force be used if necessary?

Ambassador Qin:

As I said just now, realizing the complete reunification of the country is the firm determination and strong will of the entire Chinese nation.

China's sovereignty is inviolable, the Chinese people cannot be insulted, and China's reunification is unstoppable!

Recently, we have repeatedly stated that the Chinese People's Liberation Army will never sit idly by. The Chinese military's duty is to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will take all resolute and strong measures to this end.

Kim:

Resolute, strong measures, these are heavy words.

Thank you, Ambassador, for the interview today, and we'll keep an eye on how things develop.

Hope to keep in touch with you in the coming days.

We obviously disagree on some issues, but thank you for taking the time to be interviewed.

Ambassador Qin:

Thank you for the interview.

Kim:

Thank you.