CHINA: The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said on Tuesday, 1 March, that any attempts at providing support for Taiwan are bound to be futile. His comment comes in response to a planned visit to the island by a group of former senior US defense and security officials, organized under the directive of US President Joe Biden.

While speaking at a daily media briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson urged the United States to be prudent in the way they handle the Taiwan issue, and to refrain from further harming US-China relations.

"The will of the Chinese people to defend our country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity is immovable, and whoever United States sends to show support for Taiwan is futile. China urges the U.S. to abide by the One-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, to stop any form of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, so as not to further damage the overall situation of Sino-U.S. relations, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said.

The visiting delegation, led by the one-time chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, comes amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, and during a time when Taiwan has raised its alert level in concern that China may take advantage of a distracted West and make a move against it.