The head of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, received the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen in California on Wednesday. AFP
The head of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, received the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen in California on Wednesday, for a meeting that according to the political leader shows that Taipei is not “isolated”, a meeting that China He vowed to respond with “firm measures.”
Source: AFP
At the end of the meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, in simi valleyTsai thanked McCarthy and the party leaders who received her for the symbolic meeting that irritated Beijing, which promised a “firm” response.
“Your presence and unwavering support reaffirm the people of taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone,” Tsai said.
Chinawho had expressed his disagreement with the meeting, spoke shortly after.
“In response to seriously misguided acts of collusion between United States and Taiwan, China will take firm and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published by the Xinhua news agency.
Beijing regards the democratically and self-ruled island as a rebel province that is part of its territory, and says it is willing to take it back, even by force.
Under the “one China” principle, Beijing does not allow any country to have diplomatic ties with them and the Taiwanese at the same time.
“I underlined [en la reunión] something that President Reagan stood for, that to preserve peace, we have to be strong,” said Tsai, who arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday after a diplomatic tour of Belize and Guatemala.
“Taiwan is grateful to have the United States by its side as we face the unique challenges of our era.”
USA recognized Beijing in 1979but it is a major ally of Taiwan and its biggest arms supplier.
Support for the island is one of the few bipartisan consensus in the US Congress and during Tsai’s tenure this relationship has strengthened.
McCarthy, second authority on the presidential line and a native of Californiadescribed Taiwan as “a successful democracy, a thriving economy, and a global leader in health and science.”
“The friendship between the people of Taiwan and the United States (…) is vital to maintaining economic freedom, regional peace and stability,” McCarthy said. “We will honor our obligations and reiterate our commitment to our shared values.”
“We must continue to sell arms to Taiwan,” he told reporters after the meeting.
“Our goal is that it never happens, but we know historically that the best thing to do is to supply weapons to allow people to prevent war,” he added. “It is a vital lesson that we learned in Ukraine, that the mere thought of sanctions is not going to stop anyone.”
– Demonstrations –
With flags and slogans, demonstrators in favor of Beijing or in defense of Taipei’s position crowded around the library where both politicians shook hands.
A small plane flew over the place with a banner reading “One China! Taiwan is part of China!”
He United States Secretary of State Antony Blinkenplayed down Tsai’s scale in California and urged Beijing not to use this as “an excuse to fan tensions.”
“This transit of high-level Taiwanese authorities is not a novelty,” he told reporters in Brussels, where he met with NATO leaders.
“It’s private and it’s not official.”
McCarthy planned to follow the example of her predecessor in office, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who visited Taiwan in August last year.
The gesture drew the ire of China, which responded with the biggest military maneuvers in its history around the island.
The Republican leader ultimately chose to meet with Tsai alongside several congressional representatives outside of Los Angeles.
However, Xu Xueyuan, charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in the United Statestold reporters last week that Washington risked a “serious confrontation” regardless of whether US leaders visited Taiwan or vice versa.
Beijing officials said McCarthy was “playing with fire” with this encounter.
Pelosi greeted the California meeting on Wednesday, in which more than a dozen congressmen both Democrats and Republicans participated.
“Today’s meeting between Taiwan President Tsai and McCarthy is commendable for her leadership, her bipartisan engagement and her distinguished and historic venue,” he said.
Tsai’s stoppage, which ends her term in 2024, comes as China has intensified military, economic and diplomatic pressure on self-governing democracy.
Only 13 countries in the world recognize Taipei.
