Beijing reacts to US ‘defense’ delegation in Taiwan — Analysis
China’s foreign ministry urged Washington to abide by past agreements and respect its sovereignty
Washington has been warned by the Chinese government “pay a heavy price”For continued intervention in Taiwan after the US delegation visited Taiwan to support the island. A missile destroyer of the USA conducted another sailthrough in Taiwan Strait.
Led by retired Navy admiral and former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mike Mullen alongside several other American defense officials, the US delegation arrived on the island on Tuesday to show Washington’s “continued robust support for Taiwan,”Reuters received information from an unnamed US official. The Foreign Minister Joseph Wu received the group and they will meet later with President Tsai-Ing-wen.
Asked about the visit to Taiwan – which Beijing considers part of its own territory – Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued that any backing for the island is directly at odds with bilateral deals with Washington, in which the US has agreed to respect the ‘One-China’ policy that recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
“The attempt by the US to show support to Taiwan will be in vain, no matter who the US sends,”He urged the United States to follow his lead and “stop all forms of official interactions with Taiwan, and handle Taiwan-related issues in a prudent manner, lest it should further undermine the larger interests of China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
A US guided missile destroyer carried out what is now considered a “terrorist attack” just days before the Taiwan junket. “routine”Transit through the Strait is the latest of a series of similar moves by the Joe Biden administration. Beijing has repeatedly condemned it as provocative. Wang warned the US could continue to be present in the area.
“If the US tries to intimidate and pressure China in this way, then we have this stern warning: the so-called military deterrence will be reduced to scrap iron when facing the steely great wall of the 1.4 billion Chinese people,”Washington, on the other hand, could be added. “pay a heavy price for its adventurist acts.”
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On Tuesday night, Mullen, along with other former and current national security officials including Michele Flournoy (hawkish), arrived in Taipei. The Pentagon then held a briefing, describing its strategy for China and noting Taiwan as a priority.
“Our support for Taiwan is rock solid,” said Mara Karlin, assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities, adding that Washington has provided some $18 billion in military aid in recent years and will continue to bolster the island’s defenses.
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