ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, reiterating its support for Beijing amid recent developments in the Taiwan Strait.
Responding to media queries, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan and China were “iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners” and stressed Islamabad’s consistent support for China on matters concerning its core interests, including Taiwan.
“We will continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China,” he said.
The spokesperson noted that similar remarks had also been made during the FO’s weekly press briefing a day earlier in response to a question about the United States’ sale of arms to Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as its territory, a position rejected by the self-governed island.
While the FO statement did not specify the exact developments prompting the remarks, it followed the completion of large-scale Chinese military drills around Taiwan. The exercises included live-fire operations simulating a blockade of key ports and attacks on maritime targets.
Meanwhile, the US State Department on Thursday criticised the Chinese war games, saying they had “unnecessarily” heightened tensions in the region. Calling on Beijing to halt its military pressure, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott urged China to exercise restraint and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Pakistan praises Saudi, UAE efforts in Yemen for regional peace
Pakistan has appreciated the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen, saying such efforts reflected the two countries’ “common desire for regional peace”.
Tension flared in the region after a Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, striking what it described as a foreign military support to the southern separatists in Yemen.
In a statement issued on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s stance for resolving the situation in Yemen through dialogue and diplomacy.
“Pakistan reiterates its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and hopes that the positive steps undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates contribute towards the peaceful resolution of the issue,” he said.
The FO spokesperson appreciated the “wisdom and far-sightedness shown” by the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in addressing the situation in Yemen.
“Such efforts reflect a common desire for regional peace and stability by the two brotherly countries,” he said.
Andrabi maintained that Islamabad stood ready to play its role in strengthening the values of partnership, brotherhood and unity for lasting peace and stability in the region.
The UAE announced the withdrawal of its forces in Yemen after the country’s presidential council head, Rashad al-Alimi, asked the UAE forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours.
Saudi Arabia also backed the call for UAE forces to leave Yemen.
The UAE was a member of the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis in Yemen from 2015.
In 2019, it started a drawdown of its troops in the country but remained committed to the internationally recognised government.
Days earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasising peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.
During the telephonic conversation on December 31 last year, both leaders discussed bilateral ties and the evolving situation in the region.
The premier emphasised the need for unity and coordination within the Muslim Ummah to address the current challenges.
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