Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. (PHOTO / FMC.GOV)

BEIJING - Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday said China firmly opposed any official interactions between the United States and Taiwan under any pretext.

Focusing on saving American people's lives, instead of political shows, is what American health officials should do now, Zhao said

"Those who play with fire will get burnt," Zhao said, urging certain American people not to have illusions about issues concerning China's core interests.

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Zhao made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment on US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who said during his visit to Taiwan that China "chose not to" warn the world about COVID-19 and betrayed the cooperative spirit needed for global health.

Zhao said China had been containing the COVID-19 epidemic in an open, transparent and responsible manner, earnestly implementing its duties and obligations under International Health Regulations, and actively carrying out international prevention and control cooperation.

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Focusing on saving American people's lives, instead of political shows, is what American health officials should do now, Zhao said.  

Also on Wednesday, a Chinese mainland spokesperson denounced the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority's attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" under the pretext of the coronavirus epidemic, calling such a move nothing but a farce.

Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to the recent visit by Azar to Taiwan.

The visit violated the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiques, Ma said, voicing firm opposition to the move.

The DPP authority's attempt to use the event to conduct political manipulation, and seek "Taiwan independence" under the pretext of the epidemic, is nothing but a farce, Ma noted.  

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