Tensions between China and Taiwan have escalated following a meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. The Taiwanese government observed a Chinese aircraft carrier off the east coast on Thursday and expressed concern over China’s announcement that it would inspect ships in the Taiwan Strait.
McCarthy — the third-highest-ranking politician in the U.S. leadership hierarchy — and other Republican and Democratic lawmakers met with Tsai Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The meeting took place despite threats of retaliation from China.
Germany waives meetings in Taiwan
The leadership in Beijing sees democratically governed Taiwan as a breakaway province and sees meetings between top Taiwanese politicians and Western politicians as a departure from the one-China principle. The US, but also Germany, among others, have committed themselves to this. For example, Germany refrains from official meetings between the president of the Bundestag and the Taiwanese leadership. Meetings of ministers or members of parliament, for example, are perceived as unproblematic, even if the People’s Republic protests against these talks.
Aircraft carrier spotted off the coast
In response to McCarthy’s meeting with Tsai, the Beijing government sent the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong to a sea area about 370 kilometers off Taiwan’s east coast, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said. No launches from the ship’s deck have been observed to date. He later explained that the carrier is located east of the southern tip of Taiwan and is being observed by Taiwanese warships at a distance of five to six nautical miles.
Japan’s defense ministry said China’s naval force consists of three ships, including a frigate and an escort ship. The society is guarded by a Japanese warship. China conducted extensive maneuvers around Taiwan last August after then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited the capital Taipei.
Macron and von der Leyen in China
Parallel to tensions over Taiwan, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. While Macron hopes for orders from the French economy, von der Leyen was more critical of Beijing’s communist leadership before the joint visit.
The war in Ukraine should also be a problem. In addition, the current development around Taiwan should also be discussed.
Source: Krone
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