Jets, anti-submarine helicopters and three warships. Chinese movements around the island of Taiwan have never stopped, but Beijing draws attention when it observes a rapprochement between Taipei and Washington. Therefore, the maneuvers of the Chinese military raise concerns that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in the United States will dust off the perceived tension in the Taiwan Strait last August. visit of then-speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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Conversation between Tsai and McCarthy
Returning from a post in Guatemala and Belize, the Taiwanese president met with the third office of the American administration in Los Angeles, fueling Beijing’s anger. A face-to-face meeting between the two countries risks exacerbating the already strained relationship between the US and China. For Washington it was just a private visit, an insignificant crossing, for China an unacceptable provocation.
The island is actually a battleground between two superpowers. For Beijing, Taiwan is a rebellious island destined to be reunited with the “motherland”, while for Washington it is a major commercial player (because it is a leader in semiconductor manufacturing) and a crucial window into the Indo-American economy. Pacific.
The United States has maintained a long “strategic uncertainty” over Taiwan over the years. Washington has known Beijing since 1979, but China remains Taiwan’s strongest ally and major arms supplier. In fact, the US does not recognize the aims of China’s sovereignty over the island on the basis of its personal interpretation of the one-China principle. The principle that foreign countries should not have simultaneous official ties with Beijing and Taipei. Over the years, China has successfully eliminated many of Taiwan’s official allies, reducing the number of governments that recognize Taipei to 13.
“You have to be strong to have peace,” the Taipei leader said at the end of his meeting with the republican at the Ronald Reagan Library on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Tsai stressed his island’s commitment to “peacefully maintaining the status quo” and thanked the US Congress for their support.
Military and diplomatic support, of course. Taipei leader’s comment “Together we are stronger”. “US support shows that we are not alone, that we are not isolated.” Speaker McCarthy underlined that “the friendship between America and the Taiwanese people has never been stronger” and assured that the United States will respect China’s commitments to the island, which it sees as its “inalienable territory”.
Special patrols with inspections on ships
China has promised a “decisive” response after the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy. Following the encounter, Taiwan’s defense ministry said a Chinese anti-submarine helicopter and three warships were spotted around the island. The Chinese navy aircraft carrier Shandong passed through the strait separating Taiwan and the Philippines yesterday.
The message is clear: Washington must step back and stop “heavy interference” in Beijing’s “internal affairs”. The Chinese giant is militarily ready, saying it is determined to intervene “to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Beijing is not caught off guard and is giving clear signals. The Chinese coast guard has launched a special patrol operation: it will conduct inspections on ships passing through the Taiwan Strait. This is an absolute novelty and China has decided to launch a patrol led by “Haixun 06” to survey the sea routes through which ferries, cargo ships, commercial boats and fishing vessels pass. But Taipei is not there and has announced that it will prepare the Taiwan coast guard to help merchant and fishing vessels reject the Chinese measure.
The operation is less visible and less noisy than a rocket launch and drill. This is a sign that President Xi Jinping wants to start in Taipei, not wanting to hide the importance of the ongoing meetings with Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing. But it is said that the Chinese president will not wait for the two European leaders to leave to stretch his muscles.
Source: Today IT

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.