Zhu Fenglian Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

A spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday urged the US to exercise prudence on the Taiwan question, in response to claims reportedly made by the US State Department regarding the region's so-called special defense budget.

According to media reports from Taiwan island, the US State Department recently responded to a reporter's question by claiming that the US "welcomes" Taiwan's proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39.6 billion) special defense budget, while Raymond Greene, head of the "American Institute in Taiwan" Taipei office, warned that "freedom is not free," which sparked strong dissatisfaction on the island.

In response, Zhu Fenglian, the spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and resolving the Taiwan question is an internal affair of the Chinese people and brooks no interference from any external forces.

Zhu further stated that the US side should strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, exercise prudence in words and deeds on the Taiwan question, stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and cease interfering in China's internal affairs.

Global Times