Vietnam maintains a “One-China Principle” and urges all parties to refrain from raising the level of tension in the Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry’s statement on Wednesday.

Le Thi Thu Hang, Spokeswoman for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Baoquocte

“Vietnam wishes for all relevant parties to exercise restraint, not to exacerbate tensions in the Taiwan Strait, contributing to maintaining peace and stability, and strengthening cooperation and development in the region and the world,” said Le Thi Thu Hang, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

She asserted that Vietnam steadfastly upholds the “One-China Principle.”

Hang made the statement following the visit paid to Taiwan by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.

Tensions around the Taiwan Strait were heightened when Nancy Pelosi made an unscheduled visit to Taipei on the evening of August 2.

According to “White Paper--The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue” by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the One-China Principle should be upheld, namely that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is not to be separated.  

From China’s point of view, Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is “a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions in the three Sino-US joint communiqués” and “sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence,” China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website.

Just 15 minutes after Pelosi arrived at Songshan Airport in Taipei, China’s Xinhua News Agency reported that the People’s Liberation Army would conduct drills from August 4 to August 6 in six areas surrounding Taiwan, including some that overlap with the internal waters and territorial waters claimed by Taipei.

Beijing summoned US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns over Pelosi’s visit.

Meanwhile, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said in a press conference at the White House that “there’s been no change in American policy with respect to One China.”

The US recognized the “One-China Policy” and maintained the Taiwan Relations Act.