Despite repeated threats of retaliation from China, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met Wednesday (April 5) in California with Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy.
“We are not alone, we are not isolated”greeted the leader of Taiwan, while Kevin McCarthy, elected from California, received her, surrounded by a large group of parliamentarians, Republicans and Democrats, at the Ronald-Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, near Los Angeles.
“Their presence and their unwavering support reassure the Taiwanese people”, applauded Tsai Ing-wen, from a party that traditionally campaigns for independence, an absolute red line for Beijing. Under his tenure, Taiwan grew closer to the United States.
For his part, Kevin McCarthy assured that the relationship between Taipei and Washington was ” stronger “ that she never was ” During his life “.
“Strategic Ambiguity”
China launched unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan last August when Democrat Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy’s predecessor, visited Taiwan. This time, Beijing promised to take “determined and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”announced the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release published by the New China agency.
China considers that the democratic and autonomous island of Taiwan is one of its provinces to be taken back, favoring a “peaceful reunification”, but without excluding the use of force. In the name of its principle of“One China”no country is supposed to maintain official ties with Beijing and Taipei at the same time.
Only thirteen states recognize Taiwan, including Belize and Guatemala, Latin American countries that Mme Tsai visited on her tour to cement the relationship with her few official allies, after a first stop in New York.
But the United States has long maintained a “strategic ambiguity” on the Taiwan issue. Although Washington has recognized Beijing since 1979, it remains Taiwan’s most powerful ally as well as its main arms supplier.
Consensus between Democrats and Republicans
Support for the island is one of the few points of consensus between Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress. A fact that Mr. McCarthy tried to recall with great symbolism in front of an old version of Ronald Reagan’s Air Force One presidential plane.
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“The friendship between the peoples of Taiwan and the United States is of great importance to the free world and is essential to the maintenance of economic freedom, peace and regional stability”did he declare.
At first, the new speaker of the House of Representatives, who initially wanted to visit Taiwan, made no direct reference to China or its president Xi Jinping, nor did Mr.me Tsai. What contrast with the frontal attitude of Mme Pelosi when she held the position.
Kevin McCarthy, however, was more direct during a press conference after the meeting. “There is no place [pour Pékin] to take retaliatory measures”, he pleaded. But “China is not going to tell me where I can go or who I can talk to”he added, without ruling out a future visit to the island.
Pursue arms sales to Taiwan
The speaker also called for “continue arms sales to Taiwan”which are according to him the ” best way “ to prevent a Chinese invasion of the island. “It’s a key lesson we learned from Ukraine that the idea of simple sanctions in the future won’t stop anyone”he insisted.
The Biden administration has also downplayed the importance of this meeting. On Wednesday, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, stressed that it was only a « transit » of the Taiwanese leader on American territory and not of an official visit. He called on Beijing not to use the interview as « excuse » pour “raise tensions”.
Earlier this week, Chinese diplomacy, for its part, recalled that China was “strongly opposed” at the interview Mr. McCarthy and Mr.me Tsai. Beijing has also explained that it is ready to “firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity”without expressly mentioning possible military maneuvers.
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