Chinese military officials said to carry out more military exercises on Monday near Taiwan as a group of U.S. legislators visited the Chinese-claimed island. Tsai Ing-wen, president of the island, said her government emphasizes stability. After Pelosi’s trip, China conducted two weeks of military exercises threatening Taiwan, claiming the island as its own. She was the highest-ranking member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
Chinese military announced new military exercises around Taiwan as the 2nd delegation of U.S. Congress members reached the self-governing island to meet President Tsai Ing-wen. Recent moves from Washington & Beijing spur renewed tensions just days after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/97jYKnnmbN
— Live News Now (@LiveNewsNow6) August 17, 2022
These drills included firing missiles into the Taiwan Strait and sending warplanes and navy ships across the waterway’s midline, which had served as a buffer between the sides since 1949 when they split. In addition, U.S. politicians engage with the island’s government and sell weapons to encourage the island’s independence, according to the China accusations.
A group of five United States lawmakers, including Senator Ed Markey, visited Taipei unannounced on Sunday. It was the second high-level visit of the U.S. delegation following that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who visited in early August, triggering several days of Chinese war games. PAL Eastern Theatre Command, which presides over China adjacent to the Taiwan area, has conducted multi-service joint combat readiness patrols and combat drills on Monday in Taiwan’s air and sea space.
Chinese Response to the U.S. Delegation Visit to Taiwan
A separate statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry described the lawmakers’ trip as an invasion of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity. It showed the true face of the U.S. as a spoiler and disrupter of stability and peace in the region. Chinese People’s Liberation Army soldiers continue training and preparing for war, resolutely preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity and holding nothing back from crushing separatism and foreign interference against Taiwan.
At a daily briefing on Monday, after Beijing announced new drills in the seas and skies surrounding Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin vowed to “take resolute and strong measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The collision of a couple of U.S. politicians with the separatist movement for Taiwan independence is attempting to challenge the one-China principle, which they are incapable of doing due to their lack of expertise and political will.
Source: Web
The Low-Key Trip than Pelosi’s
The previous U.S. delegation’s visit angered Chinese officials, and they responded with test launches of ballistic missiles for the first time in Taipei. China also announced to stop diplomatic dialogue with the U.S. on major issues, including climate change. Additionally, the recent trip was much more low-key than Pelosi’s visit.
However, the Congress members’ group left Taiwan in late Monday afternoon. The de facto United States embassy in Taiwan said they had also met members of the defense committee, foreign affairs, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. The Chinese administration has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The government of Taiwan asserts that it is only its 23 million people who can determine the island’s future, not the People’s Republic of China.
Although the United States doesn’t have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is legally required to provide Taiwan with the means of defending itself. China’s response to foreign friends visiting Taiwan would not deter them, according to Premier Su Tseng-chang. In an interview with reporters, Tseng-chang said, “We cannot just do nothing because we have an evil neighbor next door and refuse to let people in.”
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