Pakistan PM backs China amid Beijing’s rising tensions with Taiwan 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday backed China’s stance on Taiwan, saying it was an inalienable part of China amid Beijing’s rising tensions with Taipei. 

The development takes place as China launched joint exercises involving the army, navy and air force in the sea near Taiwan this week after its new president, William Lai Ching-te, took oath of office and called on Beijing to stop its “intimidation” of the island. 

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

In a message on social media platform X, Sharif said Pakistan has always supported China’s principled stance on Taiwan and would continue to do so. 

“Pakistan adheres to ‘One China’ policy, regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China and supports the Chinese government’s efforts for national reunification,” Sharif wrote. 

“The so-called elections or transition of the self-proclaimed government in Taiwan do not change the objective facts on the Taiwan issue,” he added. 

Beijing has referred to Lai as a “troublemaker” and a “separatist” in the past. 

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said it had placed its military on “high alert” in response to the latest drills, which it described as “irrational provocations and actions that disrupt regional peace and stability.”

China has been one of Pakistan’s most reliable foreign partners in recent years and has invested over $65 billion in energy and infrastructure projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan. 

The project, part of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea via a network of roads, railways, pipelines and ports in Pakistan, and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.