On Taiwan President’s scheduled meeting with US Speaker, China warns of retaliation

As we reported earlier this month, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen is scheduled to visit to two Taiwanese allies of Central America that are Guatemala and Belize. However, this is not the whole point of why we are telling you about her visit. The fact that Taiwan’s President will have two stop-overs in the US including one in New York and another in Los Angeles is where China is cross with their Taiwanese neighbors. It is reported that Taiwanese President will meet the US House Speaker McCarthy in the US on her visit to Central America. While this has not been officially confirmed by either side, the visit is likely to happen and even China has some insider information of this.

Due to this, Chinese side have warned of retaliation and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a warning saying that “If she contacts US House speaker McCarthy, it will be another provocation that seriously violates the one-China principle, harms China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and destroys peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” and added that “We firmly oppose this and will definitely take measures to resolutely fight back.” Talking about the One-China policy, it is the topic where China recognizes Taiwan as being part of its own territory and also wants to merge Taiwan inside China.

Obviously, Taiwan opposes the one-China policy and does not accept that the territory belongs to China. Taiwan President Tsai also gave a strong statement while departing for her trip when she said, “Taiwan’s determination to go to the world will only become stronger and stronger”. “We are calm, confident, unyielding, and non-provocative”. She also added that “When the international community needs Taiwan, Taiwan will contribute. And if Taiwan encounters difficulties, partners will also support Taiwan.”

The US officials said that President of Taiwan meeting the US House Speaker is nothing new and not part of any escalation from the US as China suggests. The officials say that Taiwan Presidents have always met US House members on their transit and this time is no different as well. They said “Members of Congress have met with the Taiwan president on nearly every transit”