China has expressed grave concerns about recent comments by Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk Yeol on the Taiwan question, and lodged solemn representations to Chung Jae-Ho, South Korea's ambassador to China.

Sun Weidong, China's vice foreign minister, told Chung that it's totally unacceptable that Yoon claimed in an interview that the tension across the Taiwan Straits is caused by attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force, which the ROK is firmly against together with the international society, and that the Taiwan question is not just an issue between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan region, but a global matter like the Korean Peninsula issue.

"These remarks are totally unacceptable," the vice foreign minister said. "China expresses grave concern and strong dissatisfaction about it."

Sun said there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an alienable part of the Chinese territory, adding that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and a core interest of China. The settlement of the Taiwan question is the Chinese people's own affair, and no external force will be allowed to interfere, he added.

The vice foreign minister stressed that the fundamental cause of cross-Straits tension is the separatist activities carried out by "Taiwan independence" groups with the support of foreign forces. He added that it's totally improper to compare the Taiwan question with the Korean Peninsula issue as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the ROK are both sovereign states that have joined the United Nations, while Taiwan is not. 

"It's a well-known fact that the Korean Peninsula issue and the Taiwan question are totally different in nature. They're not comparable at all," Sun said. 

He urged the ROK side to earnestly abide by the spirit of the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the ROK, abide by the one-China principle and be cautious in words and actions on the Taiwan question.

Chung said the ROK respects the one-China principle, and the position remains unchanged.

(Cover image: A military helicopter flies past tourists over the Taiwan Straits on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan region, in China's southeast Fujian Province, April 7, 2023. /CFP)