China deploys warships near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting – 2023-04-06 10:40

China sent warships into waters around Taiwan on Thursday, according to Taiwan’s defense force, as Beijing vowed a “strong” response to talks between the island’s leader and the speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Despite Chinese warnings, President Tsai Ing-wen, a pet of China because she comes from an independent party, met with Kevin McCarthy, the third-in-command of the US government, near Los Angeles on Wednesday.

But Beijing has always threatened to retaliate if such an interview took place and docked an aircraft carrier near Taiwan hours before the meeting.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning lamented that “the United States and Taiwan have conspired to strengthen their ties,” which “severely undermines” Chinese sovereignty and “sends the wrong signal of support to Taiwanese separatists.” affairs.

“China will take resolute and vigorous measures to resolutely protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he told a regular press conference on Thursday.

Three other warships were spotted at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT) Thursday in the waters between mainland China and the island, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

An anti-submarine helicopter also passed through Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIS), the ministry said. China has sent coast guard ships for exceptional patrols, which Taipei has protested.

The Beijing-based Communist government considers the island one of its provinces, favoring “peaceful reunification” but refraining from the use of force.

– “Immovable” –

In the name of its “One China” policy, no country should maintain official relations with Beijing and Taipei at the same time.

In August, Beijing carried out unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan, when Mr. Before McCarthy, Democrat Nancy Pelosi visited the island.

A meeting with the American No. 3, with a view to the summer of 2022, remains unanswered at this point. However, this puts Taipei on high alert.

Taiwan’s defense minister deemed the moment Beijing chose to deploy the Shandong, one of two Chinese aircraft carriers, “sensitive”. However, he did not notice any maneuvering around the ship.

“When the aircraft carrier goes out, take-offs and landings are normal,” said Chiu Kuo-cheng, adding that there are “no takeoffs or landings” at this stage.

In the United States, Ms. Tsai, who is traveling after a tour of Latin America, praised America’s “unwavering support” for her island and assured Taiwanese that they were not “isolated” or “alone.”

Only 13 states still recognize Taiwan, along with Belize and Guatemala, a Latin American country that Ms. Tsai has visited in recent days to cement relations with some of her official counterparts, after a first stop in New York.

These tensions between Beijing and Taipei have European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing, where he met with his counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday.

They arrive on the day an eight-member US congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan for trade and security talks.

– Chinese patrol –

Kevin McCarthy chose to have Tsai Ing-wen in California after considering moving to Taiwan.

The Republican leader insisted the relationship between Taipei and Washington was “stronger” than it had been “in (his) lifetime”.

Mr. McCarthy also called for “continuing arms sales to Taiwan,” which he says is the “best way” to prevent a Chinese invasion of the island.

There were no signs of unusual military activity Thursday morning on Pingtan Island, southeast of China and closest to Taiwan.

But the Taipei Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the Taiwanese body responsible for setting policy for mainland China, has accused Beijing of “obstructing” trade across the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese maritime authorities announced on Wednesday that their coast guard was patrolling the strait.

“The action by the Chinese side is deliberately aggravating tensions between the two sides of the strait,” the MAC said on Wednesday evening, speaking of a “blatant violation” of maritime procedures.

Taiwanese boats have been ordered to refuse Chinese inspections, Deputy Director of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Goh Cheng-heng warned Thursday.