Beijing claims the Taipei Act is a 'hegemonic threat' which sabotages the 'one China principle'

 Taiwan News
Date: 2020/04/01
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Communist China on Wednesday (April 1) described the newly signed Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI Act) an "evil act."

The legislation, which aims to discourage Taiwan's diplomatic allies from cutting ties with the island country due to pressure from Beijing, passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on March 4 and in the Senate on March 11. Despite being preoccupied with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, President Donald Trump on March 26 signed the bill into law.

The act requires the State Department to induce governments that are allies of Taiwan to maintain diplomatic ties with the country and to identify those at risk of severing relations with it. The act also calls for the U.S. to supplement its diplomatic presence in countries that support Taiwan and reduce its diplomatic footprint in those that side with Beijing.

In an editorial released on Wednesday, communist China's state-run mouthpiece, the People's Daily, expressed Beijing's "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" with the act, which it claimed "sabotages" the "one China principle" and "violates international law." The paper also claimed the U.S had "grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs" with the new act.    [FULL  STORY]