Chinese and Taiwanese printed flags are seen in this illustration taken on April 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
TAIPEI/BEIJING, Jul 8 (Reuters) – Chinese fighter jets crossed the median line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday in what the island government called a provocation, as a U.S. senator visited Taipei for a meeting with Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen. that China condemned.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military and political pressure to try to force the island to accept Chinese rule.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the Chinese aircraft “intentionally crossed the median line of the strait in a provocative move, which seriously undermined regional peace and stability”.
‘THWART INTERFERENCE’
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, bristles at any form of official interaction between US and Taiwanese officials and routinely describes Taiwan as the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington. This may interest you : A great moment in American history decades along the way will reshape politics.
Chinese spokesman Wu said Scott’s visit to Taiwan had seriously damaged Sino-US relations and heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is always ready for war and will take all necessary measures to resolutely prevent interference from outside forces and secessionist attempts at ‘Taiwan independence’.”
After meeting President Tsai in Taipei on Friday, Scott told reporters that he believes “the world has changed” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We all have to put ourselves in a position where we can guarantee the defense of freedom that we all believe in,” he said. “I think it would be helpful if Taiwan participated in RIMPAC and I hope that’s what happens in the future.”
The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC, is billed as the world’s largest international maritime exercise, with the last one starting late last month with 26 nations participating in exercises in Hawaii and Southern California.
Taiwan’s government denounced Chinese pressure, saying only its 23 million people can decide its future.
US-China tensions are high on a number of issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, trade tariffs and Beijing’s refusal to openly criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali.
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Reporting by Ben Blanchard
Editing by Mark Heinrich Read also : Political experts assess the impact of the economy on the mid-term elections in the context of “bad economic policy”.
