On Thursday, China deployed warships through waters around Taiwan as it vowed a “resolute response” to the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy – the third highest ranking official in the US leadership hierarchy – and other Republican and Democratic lawmakers met Tsai on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
China had continually forewarned both sides the meeting should not take place and deployed an aircraft carrier through waters southeast of Taiwan hours before the talks. Three additional warships were detected in waters dividing the island from mainland China, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday morning.
An anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed the island’s air defense identification zone, according to the ministry. And China deployed coastguard vessels for unusual patrols that sparked a protest from Taiwan.
Despite Taiwan having been governed separately for more than 70 years, China considers it as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.
China carried out its largest-ever air and sea drills around Taiwan following a visit in August last year by McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, to the island. China then deployed warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan. Its response to the McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on high alert.
Taiwan’s defense minister described the timing of the deployment of the Shandong, one of just two Chinese aircraft carriers, as “sensitive”.
When an aircraft carrier comes out, there are usually takeoffs and landings for aircraft but we have not found any takeoff or landing. We will keep watching.”
Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters.
When asked if Shandong’s deployment was a prelude to Chinese military exercises, Chiu said, We are not ruling this out.
China has sailed its aircraft carriers near Taiwan before and at similarly sensitive times. In March of last year, the Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, just hours before the Chinese and US presidents were due to talk.
The US aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz is also about 400 nautical miles east of Taiwan. It can’t be said it’s here for us, but as soon as this situation happened – it’s all related.”
Chiu said.
The US Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ko Cheng-heng, deputy head of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, told lawmakers on Thursday they did not expect such a strong reaction from China as followed Pelosi’s trip.
What the Chinese communists care more about is whether McCarthy will visit Taiwan.”
Ko said.
China is also trying to show a more diplomatic face to the world, Ko said, noting French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are currently in Beijing.
So at the moment, they are continuing to put on a more peaceful, great power image.”
“So at the moment, they are continuing to put on a more peaceful, great power image.”
