New episode in the show of force between the United States and China in Taiwan. A delegation of members of the American Congress arrived this Sunday in Taiwan for an unannounced visit.
Five people – a senator and four representatives, Democrats and Republican – moved. They will remain on the island until Monday, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy on the island. This visit comes a few days after the end of the most important military maneuvers ever carried out by Beijing around Taiwan, in response to a visit by the President of the American House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
A response to China’s “provocative” actions
Taipei accuses China of having used the pretext of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to train for an invasion. In response, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the region. Washington will strengthen its trade relationship with Taiwan and make new air and sea crossings through the strait, in response to China’s “provocative” actions, Kurt Campbell, White House coordinator for Asia-Pacific, announced on Friday.
China considers Taiwan, with a population of around 23 million, to be one of its provinces, which it has yet to successfully reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War ( 1949). Opposed to any initiative giving the Taiwanese authorities international legitimacy, Beijing is against any official contact between Taiwan and other countries. American officials visit this island frequently, but China considers that the visit of Nancy Pelosi, one of the highest figures of the American state, was a major provocation.
“The delegation will meet with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss relations between the United States and Taiwan, regional security issues, trade and investment, climate change,” said the American Institute.
The Taiwanese Foreign Minister hailed the visit. “As China continues to escalate tensions in the region, the US Congress has again sent a high-level delegation to Taiwan, demonstrating a friendship that is unfazed by China’s threats and underscores the support resolve of the United States towards Taiwan”. US lawmakers will notably meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, he added.
With AFP