TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) responded on Tuesday (Aug. 13) to a recent Al Jazeera interview with a Chinese think tank official over Beijing's justification for an invasion of Taiwan. 

Al Jazeera journalist Mehdi Hasa interviewed Victor Gao (高志凱), vice president of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and former translator for Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平). Gao reiterated Beijing's stance, “There is only one China, and Taiwan is a part of China.” 

He added, “China does not want to use a war to solve its unification problem.” However, “Each time the separatists in Taiwan want to push the edge of the envelope, they will come across more demonstrations of the commitment of the Chinese nation to achieve peaceful reunification or otherwise,” Gao said. 

After segments of the interview were widely shared across social media, MOFA responded to concerns from local media on Tuesday, per CNA. MOFA spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) said he watched the interview and called the responses false, misleading, and “unworthy of a response.” 

Following previous statements, Liu contested the “One China” principle and dismissed Beijing’s reunification claims. Taiwan has never been under the People's Republic of China's governance, he said. 

Liu encouraged Taiwanese media and reporters to view the interview and draw their conclusions. He also said he admired the Al Jazeera journalist for his questioning and sharp rebuttals throughout the program.