BEIJING, April 15 - A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday described U.S. statements that China has been exerting military pressure on Taiwan as a misrepresentation and an expression of hostile intent.
Chen Binhua told reporters that some U.S. voices were "jumping up and down, continuously rehashing the so-called 'mainland threat' or 'military pressure.'" He said those portrayals amounted to "a complete distortion of the facts and harbours malicious intentions," adding that Taiwan is an internal matter for China and that Beijing would not tolerate outside interference.
The remarks come amid an uptick in Chinese military activity around Taiwan, which Beijing regards as its territory. China has held several rounds of military exercises near the democratically governed island, most recently conducting live-fire drills in late December, according to the accounts cited in the reporting.
Chen urged the United States to exercise great caution in handling Taiwan-related issues and to act carefully and prudently.
His comments followed a call from the U.S. State Department last week urging China to both engage in talks with Taiwan and to stop military and other forms of pressure on the island. That appeal came after Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun visited Beijing and met President Xi Jinping.
China has declined to hold talks with Taiwan's current president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a "separatist." Lai rejects Beijing's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and has stated that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, said her aim in visiting Beijing was to promote peace. During her trip, China announced measures it said would bring benefits to Taiwan, such as easing controls on food exports. However, Chinese forces continued their routine military activities around the island during the visit.
Taiwan's government has said it should be the primary actor leading engagement with China, rather than private, party-to-party contacts. Cheng told a Taiwan radio station on Wednesday that she hoped China and the United States could reconcile and cooperate. Her visit occurred a month before a planned trip to the United States by U.S. President Donald Trump.
"We can definitely go down the path of peace," Cheng said. She also announced plans to visit the United States later this year and said she wished to convey that message to Washington.