China urges the U.S. to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question and deliver on its leaders' commitment to not supporting Taiwan secession, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
Lin made the remarks in response to reports that the leader of the Taiwan authorities Lai Ching-te on Wednesday attended The New York Times' DealBook Summit via a pre-taped interview, in which he propagated separatist rhetorics about the situation in the Taiwan Strait.
"The relevant U.S. media outlet provided a platform for the leader of the Taiwan authorities to spread separatist fallacies, seriously violating the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques and sending a gravely wrong signal to separatist forces. We firmly oppose this," Lin said.
"Lai Ching-te's relevant words and actions once again exposed his nature as a diehard separatist and his malign attempt to solicit U.S. support for secession, and once again proved he is a peace saboteur and troublemaker," the spokesman said.
"We urge the U.S. to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question and deliver on the commitment made by its leaders," he said.
"No matter what Lai Ching-te says or does, he is doomed to fail as his attempts are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot," Lin said.
China urges US to recognize high sensitivity of Taiwan question: spokesman
Amid the rubble and relentless hardship of the Gaza Strip, a young displaced musician refuses to let war silence his strings, playing every day to bring fleeting moments of joy to those around him.
Samih Al-Madhoon, a resilient young performer who is still only 18-years-old, has been left displaced at the Al-Shati Camp in Gaza, but his love for music burns strongly and gives him a sense of hope for the future, despite whatever challenges lie ahead.
The Israel-Hamas conflict saw him lose his home and most of the things he held dear in life, including having to leave behind his beloved musical instrument.
"I tried to stay consistent with my playing and my talent, and to stay continuing in this path, but unfortunately during this period of displacement I lost my oud. I lost my instrument, and I lost many things that belong to me in music. And I lost [the ability to play] musical notes," he said. However, when he finally returned to playing, holding his cherished oud in his hands once more, he said he cried at once again being able to express himself through music.
Al-Madhoon has continued his musical career with a sense of determination, persistence, and talent that belies the chaos he has witnessed all around him.
He said he wants to use his music to comfort his peers who are currently living in harsh conditions, and he is seen regularly performing to others as he looks to ease people's pain all around him.
"Through music, I deliver my voice and the voice of the people of Gaza Strip, and the people of Palestine in general, that we are people who love life and peace. During this period, during the war, I play to comfort them, to make them a little happier, and to change their mood," he said.
The young performer still hopes that he will be able to live a peaceful life and perhaps one day get the chance to pursue his musical dreams on bigger stages, instead of amid the ruins and rubble of the destroyed streets of Gaza.
"My wish is to live in safety and peace, build new houses for us, rebuild the home, rebuild my memories with music, return to learning music, and to be on big stages. And I hope that I can leave to complete my studies outside the Gaza Strip and become a maestro in music," he said.
Gaza musician bravely keeps on playing to deliver sounds of joy amid devastation
