A surprise visit by a US delegation to Taiwan has raised concerns that the situation in the South China Sea could escalate. Beijing launched PLA military maneuvers in the region as a “backlash to the negative crackdown”.
Shortly before that, it was announced that a delegation of the United States Congress led by influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met on Friday in Taipei with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. However, China considers Taiwan only part of the People’s Republic and firmly rejects official contacts between its diplomatic partners and the government in Taipei.
Also practiced attacks
According to Chinese military information, attacks have also taken place during the maneuvers in the sea and airspace around Taiwan. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been growing fear that Beijing could also carry out its repeated threats to conquer the island. The US has long been committed to Taiwan’s defense capability and arms supply.
“Rock Solid” Support for Taiwan
With their visit, the American congressmen want to demonstrate the ‘rock-solid’ American support for Taiwan. During the meeting with President Tsai, Senator Graham sharply criticized Beijing and also referred to his political support for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war in Ukraine.
“We’re starting with China paying a higher price for what it’s doing around the world,” Graham said. “Supporting Putin must come at a cost.” The senator claimed the US would support Taiwan if China stepped up its provocations. Giving up Taiwan means giving up democracy, freedom and free trade, the senator said.
China: “Don’t play with fire”
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proves that democracies need to strengthen their alliances,” the Taiwanese president said. “Together we can defend ourselves against the threats posed by authoritarian systems that seek to disrupt regional peace.”
Instead, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman accused the US of blaming China-Taiwan tensions on backing Taiwanese “independence forces” despite China’s chatter. “Whoever plays with fire eventually burns himself.” The Taiwan issue is an “internal matter” of China that does not allow any foreign interference.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
