In the past, China, which views Taiwan as a rebellious province that should be reunited with the mainland, has frequently warned and protested when Taiwan’s officials visited the United States. China has urged the US to avoid formal contact with Taiwan and has tried to isolate Taiwan globally by using a variety of tactics, such as military exercises and diplomatic pressure.
Taiwan’s Tsai travels to the US amid Chinese threats of “serious conflict”
Taiwan’s Tsai travels to the US
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has visited the US on several occasions recently, including one in 2020 that attracted ire from China. She has met with US officials during her trips, including Mike Pompeo, who was the secretary of state at the time, and spoken at colleges and think tanks. These trips have frequently been viewed as a means for Taiwan to deepen its relationships with
While China has previously warned of “serious consequences” over such visits, the US has continued to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan and has sold arms to the island. The US also passed the Taiwan Assurance Act in 2019, reaffirming its commitment to helping Taiwan defend itself against Chinese aggression.
Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen is making a stopover in the US. If she sees any senior US officials, China has vowed to retaliate.
Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, made a stopover in New York on Wednesday despite warnings from China that there would be consequences if she talked with Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
While traveling to Central America, Tsai will visit with the leaders of Guatemala and Belize, two of the few nations that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
On her way back from Central America, she will tour Los Angeles in addition to staying in New York until Saturday. McCarthy and Tsai are anticipated to meet in California, though this has not been verified.
Beijing promises retaliation.
Beijing has promised to take “resolute steps to fight back” if Tsai and McCarthy do meet, and has warned against any such meeting.
The charge d’affaires at the Chinese embassy in Washington, Xu Xueyuan, claimed that she had repeatedly told US officials that Tsai’s trip would be against China’s fundamental interests.
She told reporters, “We urge the US aside not to repeat playing with fire on the Taiwan issue,” referring, among other things, to the trip to Taiwan made by Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker at the time, last year.
The US encourages China not to engage in aggressive behavior
Taiwan’s Tsai travels to the US
Beijing was incensed by Pelosi’s arrival, and as a result, the Chinese military conducted massive drills all around the island.
This time, the United States urged China to refrain from acting forcefully close to the Taiwan Strait by using Tsai’s stopover as justification.
China declares the island to be a part of its territory and promises to take whatever measures are required to reunite it with the mainland. Beijing also objects to diplomatic relations between Taipei and other foreign governments.
China has presented Taiwan with a model of autonomy based on “one nation, two systems.”
All major Taiwanese parties have rejected China’s “one country, two systems” model of autonomy for Taiwan, similar to what it does with Hong Kong. This is particularly true in light of China’s security crackdown in the former British colony.
Tsai reiterated her offer to speak with China on the premise of parity, but Beijing did not immediately respond to her speech.
As a separatist who rejects acknowledging Taiwan as a part of “one China” and does not accept Taiwan’s government, Beijing has refused to negotiate with her.
Taiwan, according to Tsai, is a sovereign nation within the Republic of China, and she has vowed to uphold its independence and autonomy without giving in.
Diplomatic Conflict Between China and Taipei
Taiwan’s Tsai travels to the US amid china
Latin America is a crucial diplomatic front in the conflict between Taipei and Beijing, and China has increased its investment there.
Taiwan accused China on Sunday of using “coercion and intimidation” to lure away its allies after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina and his Chinese colleague Qin Gang formally started relations in Beijing.
Without a specific date, the Honduras Foreign Ministry tweeted that President Xiomara Castro will visit China “soon.”
Fighter jets roared across the skies above the presidential office, and truck-mounted missile launchers among other weaponry passed in front of the platform where Tsai was seated during the National Day parade, which was heavily influenced by the armed forces.
Taiwan is a leader in the fight to protect democracy, Tsai continued.
“China is putting more weight on us as we make progress. As a result, I want to tell everyone in my community that we do not have the right to let our guard down.
The tour has also been highly condemned by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taiwan Affairs Office, who claim that it violates the “One China” principle, according to which China maintains that Taiwan is an unalienable portion of its territory that will one day be reunited.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters on Wednesday, “We firmly oppose this and will unquestionably take steps to fiercely fight back.”
On April 7, Ms. Tsai is expected to return to Taipei
While China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will ultimately reunite with the mainland, Taiwan views itself as a sovereign state.
China hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using force to accomplish that objective.
Tensions between China, Taiwan, and the US hit an all-time high last year.
Basics about China and Taiwan
- Why are ties between China and Taiwan so bad?
The autonomous island is considered to be a part of Chinese territory, and China maintains that it should be united with the mainland, using force if necessary.
- Who is in charge of Taiwan?
The island has its own constitution, freely elected officials, and armed forces with about 300,000 active members.
- Who acknowledges Taiwan?
Taiwan is recognized by only a few nations. Instead, Beijing is where most people recognize the Chinese administration. Although the US has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the law requires it to give the island the means to protect itself.
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