The visit of US top politician Pelosi to Taiwan almost two weeks ago triggered the worst crisis in decades on the free island. Now US politicians are visiting Taipei again.
Beijing/Taipei – Angered by the visit of another US Congress delegation to Taiwan, China has announced new maneuvers around the island’s democratic republic. Despite the threats from Beijing, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen received the five congressmen led by Democratic Senator Ed Markey at the Presidential Palace in Taipei on Monday.
The visit comes almost two weeks after the heated dispute with Beijing over the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The communist leadership sees the island only as part of the People’s Republic, resolutely rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei and even threatens to conquer it. Taiwan, on the other hand, sees itself as independent.
Beijing spoke of a new “provocation” by the United States and announced further maneuvers. The People’s Liberation Army will hold air and sea exercises around Taiwan to deter the US and Taiwan, Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said. China’s military will continue “preparing for war,” defending China’s sovereignty and crushing separatism in Taiwan and attempts at foreign interference.
As a reaction to Pelosi’s visit, Beijing began large-scale maneuvers around Taiwan. Among other things, a sea and air blockade and a possible conquest were practiced. Eleven ballistic missiles were also launched, one of which flew directly over Taiwan not far from the capital for the first time. It was the largest military show of force in decades.
China’s military spokesman saw the US politicians’ visit to Taipei as a “blatant violation” of the China-US agreements and a violation of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity. The visit sends a “wrong signal to the independence forces” in Taiwan, said Wu Qian.
US Senator: Taiwan an “important beacon for democracy”
In her meeting with the congressional delegation in Taipei, Taiwan’s President Tsai said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine showed that authoritarian states were threatening the world order. In addition, Chinese maneuvers around Taiwan seriously endangered peace and stability in the region.
Taiwan and the US share the same values of democracy and freedom, Tsai said. The President expressed hope for deepening cooperation to maintain regional stability, strengthen economic ties and work on more reliable supply chains.
US Senator Markey called Taiwan an “important lighthouse for democracy, human rights and freedom of expression,” as quoted by the presidential office. In defending these values, Taiwan is threatened every day. “We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to prevent unnecessary conflict.”
US officials’ stop in Taiwan came as part of a major tour of the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan is said to be about relations with the United States, regional security, trade, global supply chains and climate change, according to the US side.
Video of meeting Tsai
Source: Stern
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