China issues warning of direct military confrontation with the U.S. for the first time

China has warned the United States that its support of an independent Taiwan risks a military confrontation.

Beijing’s Ambassador to Washington issued the remarks and said that Taiwan was viewed as “sacred territory” to China. It is the first time that China has directly warned the US that a military confrontation could arise because of the issue.

China recently conducted a large military air mission in the Taiwan Strait and has vowed to implement a peaceful unification.

The Chinese Ambassador however pointed out that it considered its bilateral ties with Washington to be the most important.

Meanwhile the US has urged China to use its influence with Russia to find a diplomatic path to the ongoing Ukraine crisis.