【中英双语】外交部副部长马朝旭就佩洛西窜访台湾答记者问

2022年8月9日，外交部副部长马朝旭就佩洛西窜访台湾回答了总台央视和中国国际电视台（CGTN）记者的提问。

问：连日来，美国众议长佩洛西窜访台湾激起中国人民强烈愤慨。对这场政治闹剧，您怎么看？

答：这是一场拙劣的政治闹剧，也是一次危险的恶意挑衅。佩洛西不顾中方严正警告，执意窜访台湾，严重侵犯中国主权和领土完整，严重违反一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报规定，严重冲击中美关系政治基础，严重破坏台海和平稳定，中国人民绝不答应。中方进行坚决有力的回应和反制，天经地义。这次事件也是一个反面教材，让世人看清了美“以台制华”和台湾当局“倚美谋独”的险恶用心。经此一役，国际社会一个中国的共识更加巩固。美国打“台湾牌”遏制中国更加不得人心，竹篮打水一场空。

问：美方声称一个中国政策没有变，佩洛西访台并不违反一中政策，您怎么看？

答：一个中国原则是国际社会普遍共识，是中国同各国交往的政治基础，是不可逾越的红线和底线。一个中国是什么？答案只有一个，世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分，中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。这是为联大2758号决议所确认的国际关系基本准则，是美方在中美三个联合公报中作出的郑重承诺，白纸黑字，清清楚楚，不存在任何模糊和任意解读的空间。

美方口口声声说一个中国政策没有变，但事实是，美方多年来在不断曲解、虚化、掏空一个中国原则。他们所说的一个中国政策夹带了不少私货，包括所谓“与台湾关系法”和“六项保证”。这是违反国际法的，中方从来就不接受，也一直坚决反对。

他们还说佩洛西窜访台湾不违反一个中国政策。根据中美三个联合公报规定，美方只能同台湾保持文化、商务等非官方关系。无论行政部门，还是立法、司法机构，都是美国政府的一部分。佩洛西是美国第三号政治人物，在窜台期间张口闭口代表美国。连她自己都承认这是一次官方访问，这不是官方往来又是什么？

问：美方声称台湾四十多年来的现状改变来自北京，而不是美国。您对此怎么看？

答：什么是台海现状？就是两岸同属一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分，中国的国家主权和领土完整从未分割。打破这个现状的不是中国，而是美国和“台独”分裂势力。多年来，美方同台当局加大勾连，提升美台实质关系，大肆售台武器，助台提升所谓“非对称战力”，给“台独”分裂势力撑腰打气。这不是改变现状是什么？民进党当局拒不承认“九二共识”，顽固推进“渐进式台独”，大搞“去中国化”，这不是改变现状是什么？中方的反制措施都是为应对美国及“台独”势力挑衅行为做出的必要合理反应，完全是正义的、合法的。

问：美方称不寻求也不会挑起危机，当前台海局势出现紧张升级责任完全在中方。您怎么看？

答：这完全是颠倒黑白。这场危机是美国一手挑起的。美方不顾中方再三严正交涉，纵容支持佩洛西窜台。面对美方恶意挑衅，中方别无选择，必须奋起反击，维护国家主权和领土完整。出现当前紧张局面，责任和后果只能由美方和“台独”分裂势力承担。

问：美方称，中方采取军事演训、突破海峡中线等行动，是过度反应和升级局势，威胁地区和平稳定。您怎么看？

答：威胁台海和平稳定的是美国。台湾是中国领土的一部分，根本不存在什么“海峡中线”。中国军队在中国台湾岛附近海域开展军事演训活动，旨在维护中国的神圣主权和领土完整。我们的措施公开适度，符合国内法、国际法和国际惯例，无可指摘。

美国及其盟友经常到中国周边海域耀武扬威，挑衅滋事。他们每年搞的军演就达上百次。过度反应、升级局势的帽子他们戴最合适。

问：美方称，中方终止美中多个领域的合作，惩罚的不是美国，而是整个世界。您怎么看？

答：美国代表不了世界。中方事先早已正告美国，佩洛西窜台很可能导致危机，给双方交流合作造成重大干扰。美方对此置若罔闻，一意孤行。台湾问题是中国核心利益中的核心。美方一边严重损害中国核心利益，一边又在自身有需要的地方寻求中方合作。天下哪有这样的道理？中方取消和暂停中美相关领域合作，有言在先，说到做到，美方不应感到意外和沮丧。

我要强调的是，作为负责任大国，中方将一如既往积极参与应对气候变化等国际合作，为应对各种全球性挑战作出中国贡献。美方应该做的是承担起自身的国际责任和义务，不要为自己的错误寻找借口。

问：美方有人称，中方在台海展开的军演行动就像俄罗斯入侵乌克兰一样，将招致国际社会谴责。您对此有何评论？

答：这种说法用心险恶。台湾问题完全是中国内政，与乌克兰问题完全是两回事。美国惯于拱火挑事。据不完全统计，从二战结束到2001年，世界上153个地区发生248次武装冲突，其中美国发起201场。2001年以来，美国发动战争和军事行动造成超过80万人死亡，数千万人流离失所。美国为维护自己的霸权发动了那么多场非法战争，杀害了那么多无辜平民，现在又公然跑到台海制造事端，我们能允许吗？

问：日前，七国集团外长发表涉台消极声明，对中方行动表达所谓关切。同时，越来越多的国家和国际组织纷纷发声，支持中方正当举动。您对此有何看法？

答：170多个国家和许多国际组织发出正义声音，重申坚持一个中国原则，支持中国坚决维护自身主权和领土完整。联大主席和联合国秘书长都明确表示，联合国将继续坚持联大第2758号决议，核心就是一个中国原则。跟这170多个国家比，七国集团算得了什么？他们说的话有人在意吗？

问：美方称，如中方继续采取更多反制举措，美方将被迫回应，可能导致局势轮番升级。您对形势的下步发展怎么看？

答：事实一再证明，美国是台海和平的最大破坏者，是地区稳定的最大麻烦制造者。如果国际社会任由美国胡作非为，《联合国宪章》将成为一纸空文，丛林法则将大行其道，受害的将是广大发展中国家。

中国人民不信邪、不怕鬼，捍卫核心利益坚定不移。我们要正告美方，不要轻举妄动，不要一条道走到黑，趁早打消“以台制华”的念头，老老实实回到一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报上来，为中美关系稳定发展多做正事、实事。

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan

On 9 August 2022, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu took questions from China Central Television and China Global Television Network on Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

Q1. Over the past few days, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has caused strong public outrage in China. What’s your take on this?

Ma: This is just a political farce, and a dangerous, malicious provocation. Speaker Pelosi made this provocative visit in disregard of China’s warning. The visit infringed on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; violated the one-China principle and provisions in the three China-US joint communiqués; affected the political foundation of China-US relations; and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is unacceptable to the Chinese people. China has every reason to respond with countermeasures. The incident is also a lesson, revealing to the world US motives to contain China with Taiwan and the intention of the Taiwan authorities to seek American support for independence. In its aftermath, the one-China consensus of the international community emerged stronger, and the US attempt to play the “Taiwan card” and contain China proved more unpopular and futile.

Q2. The US claims that there is no change to its one-China policy and that Pelosi’s visit does not violate the one-China policy. How would you respond to that?

Ma: The one-China principle is the consensus of the international community. It is also the political foundation on which China develops relations with other countries. It is a red line that must not be crossed. What does one China mean? There can only be one answer. That is, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a basic norm of international relations confirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758. It is a commitment made by the US in the three China-US joint communiqués. The principle, written down in black and white, is crystal clear. There is no room for ambiguity or arbitrary interpretation.

The US claims that there is no change in its one-China policy. But in fact, it has been undermining the one-China principle over the years. It has put into its one-China policy some unilateral stuff, including the “Taiwan Relations Act” and the “Six Assurances”. This is against international law. China never accepts it, and is always opposed to it.

The US also claims that Pelosi’s visit does not violate the one-China policy. The three joint communiqués provide that the US can only maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with Taiwan. The executive, legislative and judicial branches are all part of the US Government. Pelosi is the number three figure in the US Government. During her stay in Taiwan, she was speaking on behalf of the US from the beginning to the end. Even she herself admits that it is an official visit. If this is not official engagement, then what is it?

Q3. The US claims that the change to the status quo that’s prevailed with regard to Taiwan for more than 40 years is coming from Beijing, not from the US. What is your view on this?

Ma: So what is the status quo of the Taiwan Strait? The status quo is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, Taiwan is part of China, and neither China’s sovereignty nor its territorial integrity is ever divided. It is not China who is changing the status quo, but the US and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. 

Over the years, the US has been colluding with the Taiwan authorities, and elevating its substantive relations with Taiwan. It has sold large amounts of weapons to Taiwan, helped it develop so-called “asymmetric capabilities”, and emboldened the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. If these are not changing the status quo, what are they?

Refusing to recognize the 1992 Consensus, the DPP authorities have insisted on pushing for “incremental independence”, and redoubled efforts to remove the Chinese identity of Taiwan. If these are not changing the status quo, what are they? 

China’s countermeasures are a necessary and legitimate response to the provocations by the US and the “Taiwan independence” forces. They are just and lawful.

Q4. The US says it will not seek and does not want a crisis, and China should take full responsibility for the current escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. What is your take on this?

Ma: This is confounding black and white. The crisis is unilaterally provoked by the US. Despite China’s many representations, the US still allowed Pelosi to visit Taiwan. Faced with this, China has no choice but to fight back and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The responsibility and consequence of the current tensions have to be borne by the US and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

Q5. The US claims that China’s military exercise and crossing of the median line of the Taiwan Strait are overreaction that has escalated the situation and threatened regional peace and stability. What is your take?

Ma: It is the US that is threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is part of China’s territory. There is no such thing as a median line in the Strait. The Chinese armed forces conduct military exercises in waters off China’s Taiwan island to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Our measures are open and proportionate. They are in line with both domestic law and international law and practices. They are beyond reproach.

The US and its allies often come to the adjacent waters of China, flexing muscles and stirring up troubles. They conduct up to a hundred military exercises each year. They, instead of someone else, are the ones that overreact and escalate the situation.

Q6. The US claims that China’s decision to suspend cooperation with the US in multiple areas does not punish Washington but the whole world. What is you comment?

Ma: The US cannot represent the whole world. China has warned the US well in advance that should Pelosi visit Taiwan, it would cause a crisis and major disruptions to China-US exchange and cooperation. Unfortunately, the US side ignored that, and went ahead with the visit. The Taiwan question is at the very heart of China’s core interests. The United States, while undermining China’s core interests, is asking for China’s cooperation where they need it. What kind of logic is this? China’s decision to cancel or suspend cooperation in some areas does not come without warning. We say what we mean and mean what we say. There is no reason why the US should feel surprised or upset.

Let me stress this: as a responsible major country, China will, as always, take an active part in international cooperation on climate change and other matters. We make our own contribution to the tackling of global challenges. What the US should do is to fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations. It should stop making excuses for its own mistakes. 

Q7. Some in the US compare China’s military drills in the Taiwan Strait to Russia’s “invasion of Ukraine”, which they claim will be denounced by the international community. What is your comment on that?

Ma: Such a claim is ill-intentioned. The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair. It is different from the Ukraine issue. The US always stokes tension and provokes troubles. Preliminary numbers show that between the end of the Second World War and 2001, there were 248 armed conflicts in 153 regions across the world, among which 201 were initiated by the US. Since 2001, wars and military operations launched by the US have resulted in over 800,000 deaths and tens of millions displaced from home. After starting so many wars and killing so many civilians to preserve its hegemony, the US is now creating troubles in the Taiwan Strait. How could we possibly allow this to happen?

Q8. A few days ago, the G7 foreign ministers issued a statement regarding Taiwan with negative language, expressing so-called “concern” over China’s actions. Meanwhile we see an increasing number of countries and international organizations speaking out in support of China’s justified measures. What is your take?

Ma: More than 170 countries and many international organizations have spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and expressing support for China in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both the President of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General have stated that the UN will continue to adhere to UNGA Resolution 2758, the centerpiece of which is the one-China principle. Compared with over 170 countries, what do G7 think they are? Who cares what they say?

Q9. The US claims that if China continues to take more countermeasures, the US will be forced to respond, which may lead to a spiral of escalation. What is your view on what may happen next?

Ma: It has been proved time and again that the US is the biggest troublemaker of cross-Strait peace and regional stability. If the international community allows the US to do what it wants, the UN Charter will be just a sheet of paper, and the law of the jungle will prevail. In the end, it will be the developing countries that suffer.

The Chinese people are not to be misled by fallacies or scared by evils, and will never waver in defending our core interests. We want to stress to the US: do not act recklessly, and stop going further down on the doomed path. Give up the attempt to use Taiwan to contain China, play no games but return to the one-China principle and the three joint communiqués, and do right things and take concrete steps to facilitate the steady development of China-US relations.