Sharjah 24 – AFP: Beijing said Thursday it opposed military ties between Washington and Taiwan, after President Tsai Ing-wen confirmed a small number of US troops are present on the island.
China regards self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed, and has ramped up its sabre-rattling in recent years.
On Thursday, Tsai said in an interview with CNN that there was a small number of US troops in Taiwan to help with training, adding she had "faith" that the American military would defend the island in the event of a Chinese attack.
The comments provoked ire from Beijing.
"We firmly oppose any form of official exchanges and military contacts between the United States and Taiwan, oppose US interference in China's internal affairs, and attempts to provoke and stir up trouble," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
Beijing has cut formal ties and ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan because Tsai does not regard the island as part of a "one China".
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