Taiwan defied China threats of reprisal ahead of a meeting between the island’s president and the US House speaker McCarthy. Scheduled for Wednesday, which will highlight her government’s claim to sovereignty.
President Tsai Ing-wen is wrapping up a visit of Taiwan’s last diplomatic allies in Latin America, including Belize and Guatemala. The most politically charged portion of her journey will be a transit meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Pro- and anti-Taiwan demonstrators congregated outside a downtown Los Angeles hotel in anticipation of Tsai’s arrival. Her fans marched down the red carpet heading to the hotel, banging drums, chanting. And waving Taiwanese flags and holding photos of the president. A smaller group of supporters of China gathered close on the sidewalk, chanting “One China” at times.
Moreover, China considers Taiwan to be its own territory. In addition considers any interactions between US and Taiwanese officials to be a challenge to its authority. Tsai’s tour is an attempt to show that her government has foreign support.
Belize and Guatemala are two of only 13 countries that officially recognise Taiwan. A figure that has dwindled as China has exerted pressure and poured money into isolating the island. Tsai’s trip to Latin America comes just a week after Honduras declared it was breaking ties with Taiwan in favour of China. Possibly due to a $300 million hydroelectric dam project built by a Chinese company in central Honduras.
China warned countermeasures last week and again on Monday if Taiwan leader met with McCarthy. The Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles released a statement on Monday opposing “any form of contact” between Taiwanese officials and the United States.
China warned countermeasures
“The reality and current situation are very clear that both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait belong to one China,” the statement said.
In daily news briefing on Tuesday, according spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs China “will closely monitor developments and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry stated that it has never been a part of China and that China’s recent critique has grown increasingly “absurd.”