China warned Monday that a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will “further damage” ties between Beijing and Washington.
The meeting in California on Wednesday will “greatly hurt the national feelings of 1.4 billion Chinese people”. Undermine “the political foundation of China-US relations,” according to a Los Angeles consulate spokesperson. Adding that it will “further damage China-US relations.”
McCarthy, a Republican, had previously confirmed his intention to visit Tsai in California. Defying Chinese warnings that he was “playing with fire.”
Tsai intends to visit the United States on her way back from Central America. Where she has visited the leaders of Guatemala and is visiting Belize before meeting McCarthy.
McCarthy’s office announced on Monday that the “bipartisan” gathering would be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, just outside Los Angeles.
He had intended to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor as speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who visited Taiwan in August.
That visit led China to conduct its largest-ever military manoeuvres around the island. Which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
McCarthy’s visit “a compromise”
McCarthy’s decision to visit Tsai in the US was viewed as a compromise that would demonstrate support for Taiwan. While avoiding inflaming tensions with China.
However, Xu Xueyuan, the charge d’affaires at China’s embassy in the US, told reporters last week that Washington risks “serious confrontation”. Regardless of whether US officials visit Taiwan or the other way around.
“The US keeps saying that transit is not a visit and that there are precedents,” she said. “But we should not use past mistakes as an excuse to repeat them today.”
She encouraged Washington not to “repeat playing with fire on the Taiwan issue.” Referring to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year, among other things.
China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day. And no nation may keep official ties with both Beijing and Taipei under the “One-China” principle.
“McCarthy is ignoring the broad support of the international community for the One-China principle. Ignoring the lessons that should have been drawn from previous mistakes.” China’s consulate in Los Angeles said on Monday.
“There is no doubt that he will make the same mistake again. Further deteriorating China-US relations. But it will only strengthen the Chinese people’s strong will and determination” to accomplish “reunification” with Taiwan, they added.
McCarthy is the most senior Republican lawmaker and the second in line to the US administration as Speaker of the House.