China sends warships and aircraft around Taiwan for second day
Tensions have risen in the Taiwan Strait after President Tsai Ing-wen met with the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
China has deployed warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day and imposed sanctions amid anger in Beijing over this week’s meeting between the self-governed island’s president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Three Chinese warships sailed in the waters surrounding the island, which China claims as its property, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island’s air defense zone, Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry said Friday.
On Wednesday, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong was spotted passing through southeastern waters off Taiwan en route to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles.
Beijing issued repeated warnings before the rally, and rebuked Thursday after the event concluded.
“China will take firm and strong measures to firmly protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
2 PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN ships around Taiwan were detected today at 6 am (UTC+8). ROC forces have been monitoring the situation and have ordered CAP aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities. pic.twitter.com/1iHNMNTXUK
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 7, 2023
Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan in its biggest show of force in years after McCarthy’s predecessor Nancy Pelosi visited the island. McCarthy, the third-highest politician in the US, also planned to go to Taiwan, but eventually decided to meet Tsai in California.
Reaction to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has been more restrained so far, but Taiwan remains alert.
On Friday, Beijing announced a tightening of sanctions against Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the US, Hsiao Bi-khim, as well as her family and all companies with which she is associated. Hsiao was previously sanctioned after Pelosi’s visit.
China also blacklisted the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Library, saying the two US institutions had provided platforms and facilities for Tsai’s “Taiwan independence” activities.
Tsai, who was first elected president in 2016, argues that the future of Taiwan can only be determined by its people.
China is not ruling out the use of force to take control of the island.