ACTIVE POACHING: The US Department of State accused China of changing the cross-strait ‘status quo’ framework which has enabled ‘peace, stability and development’

Taipei Times
Date: May 27, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA, WASHINGTON

The US Department of State on Friday accused China of changing the cross-strait status quo as it expressed disappointment at Burkina Faso’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is widely suspected to be due to enticements from Beijing.

“China is altering the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and undermining the framework that has enabled peace, stability, and development for decades,” a department spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement to the media.

“We have a shared interest in international security stability and we are disappointed that Burkina Faso did not take these factors into consideration in its decision to cut ties with Taiwan,” it said.

Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and reliable partner, the spokesperson said, adding that the US would continue to stand with the nation, and conduct cooperative and friendly relations with it in accordance with Washington’s “one-China” policy as set forth in the Three Joint Communiques and the US Taiwan Relations Act.
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