Last updated: 7 hours ago
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Taiwan’s foreign ministry tweeted a photo of members of the group being welcomed at Taipei airport.
A US congressional delegation has arrived in Taiwan for a visit. Just 12 days ago, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
The American Institute in Taiwan confirmed the five lawmakers’ visit to Taipei. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced on Monday that it has organized a multi-service joint combat readiness patrol and actual combat drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan Island.
After arriving in Taiwan, Ed Markey, chairman of the Asia-Pacific group of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, tweeted that he was leading a cross-party congressional delegation to visit Taiwan to reiterate US support for Taiwan and encourage stability and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Peace.
In addition to Markey, members of the delegation included U.S. Representatives John Garamendi, Alan Lowenthal, Don Beyer and Radewagen.
After Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan earlier in August, China launched its largest-ever military exercise around Taiwan.
China considers the self-governing island its own territory and has stressed that it will not give up military reunification.
In an appearance earlier this month, Pelosi became the highest-level American politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
Her brief but controversial visit was described by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as “manic, irresponsible and extremely irrational”.
At a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Cambodia, Wang Yi insisted that Taiwan “will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland”.
Earlier on Sunday, Taiwan said it had spotted two Chinese planes and six navy ships in and around the Taiwan Strait.
At the height of China’s military exercises, Taiwan accused the mainland of trying to change the status quo in the region.
Purpose of the visit
On Sunday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry released photos of members of the U.S. congressional delegation being welcomed at the airport.
A statement from the American Institute in Taiwan said the delegation’s visit was part of a broader visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
It also said the five members, led by Democratic Senator Markey, would discuss issues including regional security, trade and investment with Taiwan’s leaders.
President Tsai Ing-wen’s office said the second high-level U.S. visit this month marked “firm support” for Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during his stay in Taiwan, Markey will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, accept a banquet from Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie, and call on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the delegation was composed of two parties, the Senate and the House of Representatives, with members from important committees such as foreign affairs and military affairs. “As China continues to escalate regional tensions, the U.S. Congress once again organized a heavyweight delegation to visit Taiwan to demonstrate friendship and friendship that is not afraid of China’s threats and intimidation, and to demonstrate the U.S.’s strong support for Taiwan. “
The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan, only a few countries do. However, the United States does maintain a strong relationship with the island, which includes selling weapons to Taiwan to protect itself.
China’s reaction
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded at a regular press conference on Monday, saying that U.S. Senator Markey and his party, in disregard of China’s solemn representations and firm opposition, insisted on visiting Taiwan, China, blatantly violating the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques The regulations violate China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and send a serious wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Wang Wenbin said that China once again urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly, and stop going further and further down the wrong path of falsifying, hollowing out and distorting the one-China principle, so as not to confront China. U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait have caused further damage.
image source,Getty Images
Ed Markey
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian responded by saying that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army continues to train and prepare for war, resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely smash any form of “Taiwan independence” separatist and foreign interference attempts.
In addition, on Monday, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized an actual combat exercise.
Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, said that on August 15, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized a multi-service joint combat readiness patrol and an actual combat drill in the sea and airspace around Taiwan Island.
Shi Yi said that this is a solemn deterrent against the US and Taiwan continuing to play political tricks and undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. The theater forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.