China Threatens Revenge If Taiwan’s President Meets US House Speaker During Visit.
Tsai's visit comes at a time when some commentators believe US-China relations are at their lowest point since Washington normalized relations with Beijing in 1979 and shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei.
The Chinese government has vowed reprisal if Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, visits the US House speaker this week and has asked the US not to allow her transit through the country, calling it a “provocation.” Tsai is visiting the United States for the first time since 2019, and China, which considers democratically ruled Taiwan as its part, has repeatedly cautioned US officials not to meet her because doing so would be viewed as endorsing the island’s bid to be recognized as a distinct country. China’s Taiwan Relations Office issued a travel warning only hours before Tsai was set to depart Taipei.
The visit of Taiwan’s head.
Tsai left Taiwan on a 10-day journey to Central American allies Belize and Guatemala. The trip involves two stopovers, one in New York on the way in and one in Los Angeles on the way out. Tsai is likely to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, although no formal confirmation has been provided.
Words from the different spokespersons.
If Tsai meets US House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another violation that breaches the one-China principle, hurts China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, according to Zhu Fenglian, the office’s spokesperson. They vehemently dissented and will take decisive action to fight back.
According to Xu Xueyuan, charge d’affaires of China’s embassy in Washington, such a session might lead to another severe clash in the China-US relationship. They have made grave statements to the US side several times and have clearly stated that the US side must bear the responsibilities, she added.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby encouraged China not to exploit a “regular” visit as an excuse to escalate its aggression against Taiwan. They are aware that relations between the United States and China are strained at the moment, but Kirby asked Beijing to maintain channels of dialogue open. Kirby said Washington was still hoping to reschedule Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing, which was canceled in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a US fighter jet.
Taiwan will embrace its relations with all over the world.
Tsai stated just before her departure that external pressure will not prevent Taiwan from participating with the rest of the world. Taiwan’s resolve to become global would only get stronger, she said. They are composed, ensured, uncompromising, and non-provocative.
Tsai stated at Taoyuan airport, where she was accompanied by Guatemalan and Belizean diplomats, that Taiwan will preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy. Taiwan will contribute when the international community requires it. In addition, if Taiwan confronts challenges, associates will assist Taiwan.
As more countries migrate to Beijing, Taiwan has increasingly lost formal recognition. Honduras modified its allegiance, leaving only 13 countries with diplomatic connections to Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan belongs to “one China” and has no right to state-to-state relations as a Chinese province. Taiwan denies this.
The tussle between China and Taiwan.
The one-China concept is a Chinese internal edict that establishes the government’s claim over Taiwan. China plans to conquer Taiwan under the guise of “reunification.” Taiwan’s democratically elected government, and a huge majority of its people, oppose Chinese domination.
The helping hand of superpower US.
The United States does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but it is a strong advocate of its attempts to counter Beijing’s rising military intimidation and diplomatic coercion. Tsai’s stay, her sixth since becoming president in 2016, was described as “regular” by the US administration, which advised China not to exploit it as an excuse for hostile behavior.
When then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, China held large military drills surrounding the island. In reaction to then-US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi‘s visit to Taipei in August last year, China’s People’s Liberation Army ringed Taiwan’s main island with days of live-fire drills, interrupting maritime and air travel. Taiwan’s military services said they are keeping an eye out for potential Chinese movements while Tsai is away.
Republican Kevin McCarthy, Pelosi’s successor, had shown interest in visiting Taiwan, but a meeting with Tsai in California has been viewed by observers as an attempt to prevent a recurrence of the Pelosi visit.
A US official stated that a meeting between McCarthy and Tsai would not imply an escalation from the US side. Members of Congress had previously met with Taiwan’s president on practically every transit by Taiwanese leaders, according to the official.
Disclosure.
China’s most contentious territorial problem lies with Taiwan, which is a major point of concern with Washington, which, like other countries, only has informal connections with Taipei. But, U.S. law requires the government to give the island the resources to defend itself, and it also makes it easier for unauthorized stopover visits.
Tsai’s visit comes at a time when some commentators believe US-China relations are at their lowest point since Washington normalized relations with Beijing in 1979 and shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei. According to a senior US administration official, China has increased military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, but Washington would not change its “long-standing practice” of enabling transits through the US.
Edited and proofread by Nikita sharma
