“China Warns ‘Firm and Forceful Measures’ as Taiwanese Leader Visits US”

China has sent warships Thursday in the waters surrounding Taiwanafter deploying an aircraft carrier and promising a “determined” response and “firm and forceful measures” after the leader of the autonomous island met with the speaker of the United States House of Representatives in California, the Defense announced Taiwanese.

Despite repeated threats from Beijing, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, from a party that traditionally campaigns for the island’s independence – an absolute red line for China – met on Wednesday near Los Angeles with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Republican Kevin McCarthy. But Beijing has always threatened a response if such an interview took place and deployed an aircraft carrier near Taiwan hours before the meeting.

Three more warships were detected overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in the waters between mainland China and the Democratic Autonomous Island, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. An anti-submarine helicopter also passed through Taiwan’s air defense zone, according to the ministry. China has deployed coast guard vessels for exceptional patrols which Taipei has protested against.

“One China”

The communist regime considers the self-managed island for more than 70 years as one of its provinces to take back, favoring “peaceful reunification”, but without excluding the use of force. In the name of its “one China” principle, no country is supposed to maintain official ties with Beijing and Taipei at the same time.

In August, Beijing launched unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan when Democrat Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy’s roost predecessor, visited the island. The response at this stage to the meeting with the American number three has nothing to compare with the summer of 2022. It does, however, put Taipei on high alert.

The Taiwanese Minister of Defense considered “sensitive” the moment chosen by Beijing to deploy the Shandong, one of the two Chinese aircraft carriers. However, he did not observe any maneuvers around the ship. “When an aircraft carrier goes out, there are usually aircraft takeoffs and landings,” said Chiu Kuo-cheng, adding that he saw “no takeoffs or landings” at this stage.

“Unwavering Support”

In the United States, Taiwanese President Tsai, who was in transit after a tour of Latin America, praised Washington’s “unwavering support” for her island and assured that the Taiwanese were neither “isolated” nor “alone”. Only 13 states still recognize Taiwan, including Belize and Guatemala, Latin American countries it has visited in recent days to cement the relationship with its few official allies, after a first stop in New York.

A few hours later, China promised “determined and effective measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” China’s Foreign Ministry has likened the Tsai-McCarthy meeting on US soil to “seriously flawed acts of collusion” between the US and Taiwan, according to a statement released Thursday morning.

Kevin McCarthy stressed that the relationship between Taipei and Washington was “stronger” than it had ever been “in (his) lifetime”. Under Tsai Ing-wen’s tenure, Taiwan moved closer to the United States. The American official also called for “continuing arms sales to Taiwan”, the “best way” according to him to prevent a Chinese invasion of the island. “It’s a key lesson we learned from Ukraine, that the idea of ​​simple sanctions in the future won’t stop anyone,” he insisted.

(AFP)Show comments