China’s ‘firm and strong’ response after the US-Taiwan meeting, deploys warships | World news

China sent warships through the waters around Taiwan on Wednesday as it testified a “firm and strong” response to the island’s leader meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen held talks with McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, expressing gratitude afterward for the meeting, which included other US lawmakers.

Also read: Can the United States and China avoid another diplomatic crisis?

“Their presence and unwavering support assures the Taiwanese people that we are not isolated and we are not abandoned,” Tsai told reporters.

China has repeatedly warned both sides that the meeting should not take place, and sent an aircraft carrier through waters southeast of Taiwan hours before the talks.

Three warships were spotted in the waters separating the island from mainland China and anti-submarine aircraft crossed Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday morning.

China also deployed coast guard ships for unusual patrols that drew a protest from Taiwan.

Although Taiwan has been ruled separately for more than 70 years, China views it as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

Tensions flared around the island last August, following a visit to the island by McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

China then deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan, its biggest show of force in years.

His response to McCarthy’s meeting has been very low-key, but it still leaves Taiwan on high alert.

Tsai said face-to-face meetings with US officials were important for “regional peace” and called on Beijing to remain calm.

“I still hope the Chinese team can exercise self-control and not get angry,” he said at a pre-departure press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Taiwan’s defense minister described the timing of the deployment of the Shandong, one of China’s two aircraft carriers, as “sensitive” and that Taiwan is monitoring activity around the ship.

When asked if the Shandong deployment was a prelude to China’s military exercises, Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters: “We are not judging this”.

The United States called on Thursday on China “to stop military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy”.

“We are committed to maintaining open channels of communication to avoid any risk of miscalculation,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

– ‘Unwavering support’ –

Tsai’s visit to California was a technical stop after a trip to Latin America to see two of Taiwan’s dwindling group of official diplomatic partners.

China has issued repeated warnings before the Tsai-McCarthy meeting and issued another strong rebuke on Wednesday afternoon.

“China will take firm and strong measures to protect national sovereignty and regional stability,” foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular briefing.

McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but chose instead to meet Tsai in California.

The decision was seen as a deal that would emphasize support for Taiwan but avoid heated tensions with China, a move that analysts say has proven successful.

McCarthy said after meeting Tsai that a shared belief in freedom and democracy underpins a relationship that is “a matter of deep importance to the free world”.

McCarthy vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan – which angered the Chinese leadership – would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to deflect anger.

“And what we know through history, the best way to do that is to provide weapons that allow people to prevent war,” he said.

“It is an important lesson learned by Ukraine, that the idea of ​​sanctions in the future will not stop anyone” who wants to fight.

Also read: ‘Counting on Xi Jinping to bring Russia to its senses’: French Prez Macron

– China pressure –

There were no early signs of military activity Wednesday morning on Pingtan Island in southeast China – home to a People’s Army base and one of the closest points on the mainland to Taiwan.

AFP reporters on Pingtan last year witnessed missile launches and military helicopters flying over the island following Pelosi’s visit.

However, Taipei’s China policy-making body, the Mainland China Council, said China’s coast guard vessels were “disrupting” trade by conducting on-the-spot inspections on cargo and iron ships. – travel

Taiwanese ships have been ordered to refuse inspection requests, deputy director general of National Defense Ko Cheng-heng said on Wednesday.

Ahead of her return trip from the United States on Wednesday, Tsai said her national security team is “closely monitoring the situation” to ensure the safety of its ships “and to prevent China’s interference in local areas.” come”.