On August 4, 2022, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li was instructed to summon diplomatic envoys of relevant European countries and the European Union (EU) to China for an emergency meeting and lodged solemn representations on the negative Taiwan-related statement issued by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Deng Li said the G7 foreign ministers and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a negative Taiwan-related statement last night that distorted facts and confounded black and white. This is utterly an act of wanton interference in China's internal affairs and blatant political provocation that is egregious in nature and has sent a seriously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China firmly rejects this and hereby lodges its stern representations and strong protests.

Deng Li pointed out that the one-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations, the overwhelming consensus of the international community, the political foundation for China's relations with other countries, and a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed. The one-China principle has strict connotations, that is, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan 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 of China, and countries that have established diplomatic relations with China shall not have any form of official exchanges with Taiwan.

Deng Li noted that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a naked political manipulation and a flagrant and serious violation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is only natural for China to take firm countermeasures without hesitation. In the face of the provocative act by the U.S. in collusion with certain people in Taiwan, China is absolutely justified in fighting back. Instead of dissuading the U.S. from acts that incite splitting China, aggravate tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and use Taiwan to contain China, or condemning the U.S. for doing so, the European side has brazenly claimed in its statement that "there is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable". This has seriously violated the one-China principle and had a severe impact on the political foundation of bilateral relations.

Deng Li stressed that the will of the people is not to be defied. The Taiwan question concerns the national feelings of the Chinese people, and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is one of the biggest consensuses of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity, patience and efforts, but we will also prevent the splitting of the country by all means, at any cost, and with the firmest resolve. No country, no forces and no individual should ever misestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese government and people to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation!