BEIJING: China has threatened to “resolutely fight back” if US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her planned transit through the United States next month, saying any such move would be a “provocation”.
The warning on Wednesday came as Tsai was due to depart for a trip to Guatemala and Belize, which will see her transit through New York and California in the US.
Although not officially confirmed, the Taiwanese President is expected to meet McCarthy at the end of her 10-day trip while in California.
China, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as it own province or territory, has repeatedly warned US officials against meeting Tsai, viewing it as support for the East Asian island’s desire to be seen as a separate country.
Beijing staged war games around Taiwan last August when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. Taiwanese armed forces have said they are keeping watch for any Chinese moves when Tsai is abroad.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters in Beijing that Tsai’s “transits” of the US were not just her waiting at the airport or hotel, but for her to meet US officials and legislators.
“If she has contact with 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,” she said.
“We firmly oppose this and will definitely take measures to resolutely fight back,” Zhu added, without giving details.
US says transits by Taiwanese presidents are routine matter
Washington says such transits by Taiwanese presidents are routine and that Beijing should not use Tsai’s trip to take any aggressive moves against Taiwan.
Taiwanese presidents routinely transit through the US while visiting diplomatic allies in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific which, although not official visits, they are often used by both sides for high-level meetings.
Beijing claims that China and Taiwan belong to “one China”, and that as a Chinese province Taiwan does not have any right of state-to-state ties.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims and while Tsai has time and again offered talks with Beijing she has also said only the island’s people can decide their future.
