US Ambassador To United Nations Set To Visit Taiwan; Irked China Warns Washington Will Pay A 'Heavy Price'

The decision of the United States (US) to send its Ambassador to United Nations (UN) Kelly Craft to Taiwan has irked China, which has warned that Washington "will pay a heavy price for its wrong action", reports Economic Times.

Ambassador Craft will be visiting Taiwan from 13-15 January and will hold meeting with senior Taiwanese counterparts and members of the diplomatic community. As per the official statement issued by the US Mission to the UN, Ambassador Craft will reinforce the US' strong and ongoing support for Taiwan's international space.

In response to the same, Chinese Mission to the UN has said that Beijing "firmly opposes" Ambassador Craft's visit to Taiwan. It also added, "There is only one China in the world and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole China."

A spokesperson from China's Permanent Mission to the UN went on to say that China strongly urges the US to stop its "crazy provocation".

"The United States will not succeed in its attempt to harm China's core interests through political manipulation on the Taiwan question. We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself," the spokesperson said.

"The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," the spokesperson added.