U.S. Secretary of State reaffirms one-China policy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and one-China policy during his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wednesday in Beijing.

The U.S. reaffirms the three communiques as foundation of our policy, maintains the one-China policy, and encourages cross-strait dialogue, Kerry said when meeting with the press after the talks.

The three communiques, signed in 1972, 1978 and 1982, laid the basic principles for the two countries' relations. In them, the U.S. government promises to support the one-China principle and not to support "Taiwan independence".

The Taiwan issue is the core issue of China-U.S. relations and the U.S. should abide by the one-China policy, Wang Yi said after the talks.

"No matter what changes occur in Taiwan, the basic fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China is unchanged and will not change," Wang said.

Sticking to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" is an important prerequisite and political basis for peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Wang said.

He urged the U.S. to support the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties with concrete actions.

Kerry is paying a two-day visit to Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday at Wang's invitation.