China warns US ‘not to play with fire’ regarding Taiwan

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) shakes hands with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto during their meeting in the latter’s office in Budapest, Hungary on July 12, 2019.  

BUDAPEST, Hungary — China’s foreign minister says the United States should not “play with fire” regarding Taiwan after the US announced its intention to sell $2.2 billion in weapons to the island state.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said Friday during a visit to Hungary that his country has “grave concern” about Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s stops in the US ahead and after state visits to the Caribbean.

Taiwan doesn’t have diplomatic ties with the US, which gives it military and other support. China objects to such support as interference in what it considers its internal affairs and is seeking to bring self-governing Taiwan under its control.

Wang said that “if the US side wants to create new troubles in China-US relations … ultimately their actions will only boomerang.” /ee