California [US], April 7: China reacted strongly to the meeting between Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy with a series of military statements and moves.
Reuters reported that Mr. McCarthy received Tsai in California (USA) on April 5 (US time). This was the first meeting on American soil between the speaker of the House, the third most powerful figure in the American political system, after the president and vice president, and a Taiwanese leader . In a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr. McCarthy stressed that the US needs to continue selling weapons to Taiwan and strengthen economic cooperation. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives also affirmed that Washington's support for Taipei will not change. Tsai thanked the US Congress for supporting Taiwan and said the two sides will be stronger together.
The meeting was met with a backlash from Beijing. China's foreign ministry on April 6 condemned the meeting as an "act of collusion" and vowed to take drastic measures to protect its sovereignty, Xinhua reported. Meanwhile, China's Ministry of National Defense said the military would uphold its responsibilities and mission, and remain on high alert. China's Ministry of National Defense also called on the US to honor its commitment to China on the Taiwan issue.
Prior to the meeting, China had made a series of military movements around Taiwan. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said on April 5 that China's Shandong aircraft carrier battle group had moved into an area just 370 km from the east coast of Taiwan. About 14 aircraft and three Chinese naval ships were also detected around Taiwan, of which two flew into the island's air defense identification zone.
According to Reuters, the maritime safety authority of China's Fujian province also launched a three-day special coordinated patrol and inspection in the Taiwan Strait , including an inspection of the vessel. On April 6, three more warships were discovered in the waters between Taiwan and mainland China. A Chinese anti-submarine helicopter also flew into the Taiwan ADIZ.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
