Beijing’s ambassador to Washington on Friday said in a U.S. radio interview broadcast that China and the United States is likely to end up in a military conflict if the US encourages Taiwan’s independence.

China considers the neighbouring, democratically ruled island of Taiwan its “sacred” territory and has never renounced the use of force to ensure eventual unification.

Also read: India, Philippines to secure $375 million deal for BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles

Speaking to National Public Radio, Qin Gang said, “Let me emphasize this. The Taiwan issue is the biggest tinder-box between China and the United States.”

“If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely (will) involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict,” he said.

Also read: Ottawa police call for reinforcements as anti-vax protest begins

He also said the United States remained committed to its “one China” policy and its commitments under the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act.

Washington officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei, under the long-standing policy, while the act requires the US to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Also read: Virginia colleges, universities, cannot mandate COVID-19 vaccine for students

“We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability while also maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force that would jeopardize the security of the people of Taiwan,” a Pentagon spokesperson said.

The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Qin’s remark, which came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the crisis over Ukraine.

Also read: ‘Nanny,’ ‘Exiles,’ ‘Navalny’ among top Sundance Film Festival 2022 winners

While Chinese officials have warned of military action over Taiwan, it is unusual for them to link it directly to the United States.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have escalated in recent months as China’s military has conducted repeated air missions over the Taiwan Strait, the waterway separating the island from China.