On Wednesday, China warned to respond if U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her scheduled passage of the U.S. next month, calling it a “provocation.”
China, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its territory, has frequently cautioned U.S. officials not to visit Tsai, interpreting it as support for the island’s bid for independence.
When then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August, China performed war simulations around Taiwan. Taiwan’s military services have stated they monitor Chinese movements while Tsai is away.
Tsai leaves Wednesday for Guatemala and Belize via New York and Los Angeles. She will likely meet McCarthy in California at the end of her journey.
Zhu Fenglian, the spokeswoman of China’s Taiwan Relations Bureau, told reporters in Beijing that Tsai’s “transits” of the U.S. were not merely waiting at the airport or hotel but seeing U.S. officials and congressmen.
“If she contacts U.S. House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another provocation that significantly breaches the one-China principle, undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and disrupts peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” she warned.
“We firmly reject this and will absolutely take measures to fiercely fight back,” Zhu said without elaboration.
The U.S. says Taiwanese presidents’ transits are common and that China shouldn’t use Tsai’s trip to attack Taiwan.
Taiwanese presidents typically visit diplomatic allies in Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, passing via the U.S. on unofficial visits that are utilized for high-level discussions.
China claims Taiwan is a province of China and has no right to state-to-state relations.
Taiwan’s administration vehemently opposes China’s sovereignty claims, and Tsai has repeatedly offered negotiations with Beijing but stated only Taiwan’s people could decide their destiny.
Tsai will speak at the airport before her journey to New York.
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