Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy demonstrated unity at a meeting in California. After the call, Tsai said the reception by scores of lawmakers from McCarthy’s Republican Party and President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party showed that Taiwan “is not isolated and is not alone.” In particular, the President thanked MPs from both parties for strengthening Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.
McCarthy said at the meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, near Los Angeles, that he was “optimistic” that the US and Taiwan would continue to “find ways to work together for economic freedom, democracy, peace and stability in Asia support financially”.
A shared belief in democracy and freedom is “the foundation” of a lasting relationship, McCarthy told Tsai. The friendship between the American and Taiwanese people is of great “importance for the free world”. “We will honor our commitments and reaffirm our commitment to our shared values, which unite all Americans,” he continued.
China reacted angrily to the visit on Thursday and announced countermeasures. “In response to the egregious misconduct by the US and Taiwan, China will take strong and decisive measures to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement. According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, a Chinese aircraft carrier association had already crossed waters in the southeast of the island republic on Wednesday, shortly before the meeting in the USA.
McCarthy, who holds the third highest office in the US, and Tsai met despite Chinese criticism and threats. However, the meeting was not declared as an official visit. Both pro-Beijing and pro-Taiwan protesters gathered in front of the Presidential Library.
Tsai arrived on Tuesday evening for a layover in the US state of California after visiting the Central American states of Guatemala and Belize. The Chinese leadership has sharply criticized its visit to the United States. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning spoke of a “serious violation of the one-China principle” that “undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In the run-up to Tsai’s visit, China had warned the United States against “playing with fire.” A “serious confrontation” threatens. Tsai stopped in New York last week on her way to Central America. Criticism of Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy is particularly sharp given the US politician’s high rank.
Since the split between mainland China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland, if necessary using military force. Beijing regards diplomatic relations between other countries and Taiwan as a violation of its one-China policy. Like most countries in the world, the US does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state in order not to violate this policy.
A visit to Taiwan by McCarthy’s predecessor at the head of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, had caused massive tensions last year. China held major military maneuvers in waters off Taiwan in response to the trip by President Joe Biden’s party friend.
