China has announced that it will conduct additional military drills around Taiwan on the same day that the president of the self-governing island met with members of a new congressional delegation from the United States.
This development threatens to renew tensions between Beijing and Washington, as a similar visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this year infuriated China.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, responded to Pelosi’s travel to Taiwan by conducting over two weeks’ worth of threatening military exercises, making her the highest-ranking member of the United States government to visit Taiwan in the past 25 years.
During those drills, Beijing launched missiles over the island and into the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, Beijing sent warplanes and navy ships across the waterway’s midline, which has served as a buffer between the two sides since the civil war that broke out in 1949.
China accuses the United States of supporting the island’s independence by selling weaponry to the island’s government and engaging in political dialogue with officials from the island’s administration.
Washington has stated that it does not advocate independence, does not have formal diplomatic links with the island, and insists that the two parties should settle their dispute amicably; yet, it is legally obligated to ensure that the island can defend itself against any attack.
A senior official in the United States recently stated that Washington will continue to deepen its ties with Taiwan in the coming days and weeks.
This comes after Taiwanese and American officials accused China of using the visit of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as a pretext for intimidating moves.
The most recent journey started on Sunday with very little notice before its departure, which further infuriated the Chinese government. On Monday evening, the delegates were scheduled to depart.
After Beijing announced new drills in the seas and skies surrounding Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing on Monday that China will take “resolute and strong measures” to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Wang’s comments came in response to the announcement that Beijing had made. “A small group of legislators in the United States, working in concert with those advocating for Taiwan’s independence from China, are making a futile effort to undermine the one-China principle, which is beyond their capabilities and destined to fail.”
According to what was stated earlier by the Defense Ministry, the new drills were designed to be a “resolute response and solemn deterrent against collaboration and provocation between the United States and Taiwan.”
In contrast to the previous iterations, the ministry did not provide any specifics regarding where and when the new drills would be carried out. As a result, it was unclear whether or not they had already begun.
According to the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as Washington’s de facto embassy on the island, the American politicians from the United States, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, met with President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and legislators.
During the meeting, Tsai stated that her administration was working with allies to ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait and maintain the status quo. She was referring to the fact that the island has its own autonomous government, which is independent of Beijing.
Tsai has stated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year has demonstrated the danger that authoritarian states present to the existing international order.
In response, Markey stated that both the United States and Taiwan had a “moral commitment to do everything we can to prevent an unnecessary conflict,” and that Taiwan has shown “great prudence and discretion” through difficult times.
In addition to this, the senator brought attention to pending legislation that would strengthen political and economic connections with Taiwan, particularly in the crucial semiconductor industry.
A prolonged crisis in the Taiwan Strait could have major implications for international supply chains at a time when the world is already facing disruptions and uncertainty.
This is because Taiwan is a crucial provider of computer chips for the global economy, including China’s high-tech sectors.
In addition to the geopolitical risks posed by rising tensions in the region, these implications could have a significant impact on the global economy.
Markey is one of the few members of Congress who is still serving who voted in favour of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
This act ensured that relations with the island would continue even after the United States shifted its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
Other members of the delegation include a Republican representative from American Samoa named Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Democrat from California named John Garamendi, and a Republican from Virginia named Don Beyer. All of these individuals hail from the state of California.
Markey cited the law that was passed in 1979 in a statement that was released from his Senate office. In the statement, he said that the United States must maintain its commitment to “help Taiwan withstand cross-Strait coercion” and avoid conflict.
However, China’s recent sabre-rattling’ has highlighted the country’s threat to capture Taiwan by military force, even though China claims it intends to bring Taiwan under its authority by peaceful methods.
The earlier exercises gave the appearance of being a dress rehearsal for an impending attack or blockade on Taiwan, either of which would result in the cancellation of commercial flights and the disruption of shipping to Taiwan’s main ports as well as cargo travelling through the Taiwan Strait, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
The exercises led Taiwan to put its military on alert; but, the majority of the populace, who is accustomed to living in China’s shadow, responded with defiance or apathy.
After meeting with the U.S. lawmakers, the chair of the Taiwan legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, Lo Chih-cheng, stated that the American “visit at this time is of great significance because the Chinese military exercise is (intended) to deter U.S. congressmen from visiting Taiwan.”
The Chinese military exercise is intended to discourage U.S. congressmen from travelling to Taiwan.
“Their visit this time proves that China cannot stop politicians from any country from visiting Taiwan, and it also conveys an important message that the American people stand with the Taiwanese people,” said Lo. “Their visit this time proves that China cannot stop politicians from any country from visiting Taiwan.”
Last week, a senior White House official on Asia policy stated that China had used Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to launch an intensified pressure campaign against Taiwan. This statement was made in response to a question about whether or not China had actually done this.
During a call with reporters on Friday, a deputy assistant to United States President Joe Biden named Kurt Campbell stated that “China has overreacted,” and that China’s activities continue to be “provocative,” “destabilising,” and “unprecedented.”
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In the next few weeks, according to Campbell, the United States will send warships and planes through the Taiwan Strait.
Additionally, Campbell stated that the United States is developing a road map for trade talks with Taiwan, which he said the United States intends to announce in the coming days.
