China opposes US move to change name of Taipei office

China has lodged solemn representation with the US side about media reports saying that President Joe Biden's administration is seriously considering allowing Taiwan to change the name of the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office" (TECRO) to the "Taiwan Representative Office.". Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian in response to a question at regular press briefing on Monday said, The US should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, honor its commitments with concrete actions, stop all forms of official exchanges or elevating substantive relations with Taiwan, including not renaming the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US to the "Taiwan Representative Office". He said the US should stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The US side should handle the Taiwan question in a prudent manner, lest it seriously undermine China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, a state-run tabloid warned of "severe" military and economic consequences against Taiwan if Washington allows the self-ruled island to change the name of its representative office in the U.S. The Chinese paper warned such a change would seriously anger Beijing and provoke a "severe" military and economic response. "If the U.S. and the Taiwan Island change the names, they are suspected of touching the red line of China's Anti-Secession Law, and the Chinese mainland will have to take severe economic and military measures to combat the arrogance of the U.S. and the island of Taiwan. At that time, the mainland should impose severe economic sanctions on the island and even carry out an economic blockade on the island, depending on the circumstances," it said.

Few months ago, Taiwan similarly opened an office in Lithuania called the "Taiwanese Representative Office," which prompted China to recall its ambassador from the European nation. US and Chinese Presidents spoke over telephone and hoped that the 'competition' between China and the U.S. will not evolve into a 'conflict.' However, the state-run newspaper said, “We have to tell them clearly with our actions that 'competition' with the Chinese mainland on the Taiwan question is bound to turn into a serious conflict, and there is absolutely no room for maneuver."