BEIJING, Aug. 23 (CGTN) -- China and El Salvador are two independent countries, and both are able to decide their own diplomatic relations with other countries, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang on Wednesday during a regular press conference. "There's absolutely no reason for anybody to say anything, or even interfere," he added.
Lu made the remarks when asked to respond to the US stance that El Salvador's decision to break off its ties with Taiwan may affect the relationship with the world's number one economy.
The Central American country cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established ties with China on Tuesday, confirming the recognition of Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.
"China and El Salvador established ties on the basis of the one-China policy, which coincides with not only the international law and basic principles of the international relations, but the fundamental interest of people from the two sides," Lu said. "This will, for sure, not affect any side to develop ties with other countries."
The Chinese spokesperson also lashed out at voices from the United States calling El Salvador's decision “worrisome," despite the fact that the former has held ties with China for almost 40 years.
"Right now the US has obstructed, or even threatened, other countries to abide by the one-China policy, while at the same time, allowing the Taiwan leader to pass through the US and conduct activities there. All of these are firmly opposed by Chinese people," Lu said. "We urge the United States to abide by the one-China policy as well as the principles of the three Sino-US Joint Communiques."
China hopes the US side can take the Taiwan issue seriously and not send any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces, so as not to hurt the cooperative relationship between China and the US as well as the peace and stability of the cross-Strait region.