A US congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan on Sunday August 14, 2022, shortly after extensive Chinese military maneuvers around the island triggered by the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. The unannounced five-person visit is scheduled to last until Monday, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, the Embassy de facto of the United States on the island.
The visit comes days after the end of Beijing’s largest-ever military maneuvers around Taiwan, in response to a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi that had infuriated China. Taipei has accused China of using Nancy Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to practice an invasion. In response, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the region.
The US parliamentarians – a senator and four representatives, Democrats and a Republican – will notably meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of the delegation are Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Representatives Alan Lowenthal (California, Democrat), John Garamendi (California, Democrat), Don Beyer (Virginia, Democrat) and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Samoa, Republican), a specified the American Institute. They will discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security issues, trade and investment, climate change “said the American Institute in a press release.
“Resolute support from the United States”
The Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed this visit in a press release: “ As China continues to escalate tensions in the region, the US Congress has once again sent a high-level delegation to Taiwan, demonstrating a friendship that is unfazed by China’s threats and underscores resolute support. from the United States to Taiwan “.
China considers Taiwan, with a population of around 23 million, to be one of its provinces, which it has yet to successfully reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War ( 1949). Opposed to any initiative giving the Taiwanese authorities international legitimacy, Beijing is against any official contact undertaken by other countries with Taiwan.
Face to the maneuvers launched by Beijing in retaliation, Taiwan had organized its own exercises simulating the organization of its defense against a Chinese invasion. Beijing only ended its drills after it reiterated its threats to Taipei and said it would continue to patrol the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Affairs Bureau, a Chinese government agency, released on Wednesday a “ White Book » detailing how Beijing plans to take over the island, including through economic incentives. The last White Paper on Taiwan published by China dates back to 2000.
Washington responded on Friday by announcing strengthening of its commercial relations with Taiwan and new air and sea crossings in the strait, in response to the actions “ provocative ” from China.
(With AFP)