A delegation of US lawmakers arrived in Taiwan 12 days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s one-day journey to Taipei angered China, which claims the island as its personal. This improvement additionally comes amid intense navy drills by China across the island. The transfer is anticipated to additional escalate tensions between the US and China.
The cross-party delegation consists of US lawmakers Ed Markey, John Garamendi, Alan Lowenthal, Don Beyer and Aumua Amata.
Vice Minister Yui prolonged the warmest of welcomes to #Taiwan’s longstanding pal @SenMarkey & his cross-party delegation comprising @RepGaramendi, @RepLowenthal, @RepDonBeyer & @RepAmata. We thank the like-minded #US lawmakers for the well timed go to & unwavering help. pic.twitter.com/XZKoKhnPZO
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 14, 2022
On August 2, Pelosi, head of one in every of three branches of the US authorities, turned the highest-ranking elected American official to go to Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich made a visit to Taipei in 1997.
“Our delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. Our discussions with the Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner & promote our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” Pelosi had mentioned about her go to.
READ | Decoding Chinese chatter on Pelosi’s Taiwan go to
China has since launched navy workout routines round Taiwan in retaliation for Pelosi’s high-profile go to to the self-ruled island, which Beijing views as a insurgent province that should be reunified with the mainland, even by pressure. As a countermeasure, the US has deployed its warships east of Taiwan.
So Taiwan, an island roughly 100 miles from the coast of southeast China, is successfully encircled by US and Chinese warships.
ALSO READ | Firing drills, air incursions: China encircles Taiwan in a bid to choke the island
The Chinese navy workout routines concerned a whole bunch of warplanes, dozens of naval ships, together with an plane provider group with a nuclear submarine in tow, amid assertions by the official media right here that such battle video games within the busy Taiwan Strait shall be a brand new regular. The navy drills round Taiwan raised international considerations that Beijing could also be making ready to annex the self-ruled island.
Taiwan and China cut up in 1949 after the Communists received a civil battle on the mainland. The US maintains casual relations and protection ties with Taiwan even because it acknowledges Beijing as the federal government of China.
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