The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Sunday protested remarks from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (??) the previous day that Taiwan has been a part of China "since ancient times."
In a statement, the MAC said that the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, has not been and never will be a part of the People's Republic of China.
Contrary to Wang's assertion at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) Saturday that Taiwan has "never been a state and will never become a state," the MAC said the ROC is a sovereign nation.
Moreover, the MAC rejected Wang's claim that Taiwan's supposed ancient subordination to China was "the true status quo," stating that the cross-strait relationship between Beijing and Taipei was one of equals.
The council accused China of using the "one China principle" in an attempt to mislead countries around the world, which the MAC said has never been recognized by the international community.
Noting that the MSC aims to maintain peace and prevent conflicts through dialogue, the MAC called on the Chinese authorities to adjust their coercive tactics towards Taiwan, responsibly maintain regional security, and improve cross-strait relations pragmatically and rationally.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told reporters after giving the keynote speech at the MSC that it was not Beijing "but the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces who want to change this status quo."
Wang added that cross-strait peace should be maintained through firm opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and sticking to the one-China principle.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel