The US has not fully used the opportunity when Taiwan’s President made a visit to America and Washington officially downplayed Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US….reports Asian Lite News
China and the United States are playing “transit diplomacy” over Taiwan. Americans played it when the Taiwanese President made a fleeting visit to their country while China expresses its anger by launching military drills, reported Europe-Asia Foundation (EAF).
China has expressed anger over the meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. The US has not fully used the opportunity when Taiwan’s President made a visit to America and Washington officially downplayed Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US. The meeting held between Kevin McCarthy and Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library highlighted the strengthening ties between Taiwan and US. After the meeting, McCarthy in a press conference said, “I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime.”
He further said, “America’s support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan.” Meanwhile, Taiwan President Tsai said, “We’re stronger when we are together,” as per the EAF report.
She said, “In our efforts to protect our way of life, Taiwan is grateful to have the United States by our side.” Tsai said that the support of the US reassured the people of Taiwan that they are not isolated and alone, as per the news report.
The US acknowledges the “One-China” policy and also their stance that Taiwan is part of China, however, Washington never officially recognised Beijing’s claim over the island. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US is also bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
For Taiwan, the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy was a timely show of US support as China ramps up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, which claims part of its territory. In August last year, Tsai held a meeting with the then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her visit to Taiwan.
After Pelosi’s visit, China retaliated by launching large-scale military drills and firing missiles near Taiwan, pushing tensions to their highest in decades. This time around, China’s reaction was initially restrained. However, Beijing’s recent air exercises demonstrate that little has changed in its approach.
In order to avoid provoking China and triggering a military crisis, American and Taiwan officials have demonstrated Tsai’s visit as nothing out of the ordinary, citing an abundance of precedents for a Taiwan leader to transit through the US. However, the political significance of Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy is unavoidable, according to the EAF report.
China lost no time in initiating military drills near Taiwan. Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spokesperson said that Beijing will send planes, ships and personnel into the maritime region and airspace of the Taiwan Strait. However, China does not publically reveal its “parallel transit diplomacy.”
China mounted a “massive charm offensive” by inviting former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to visit the mainland. During his visit to China, Ma Ying-jeou paid homage to his ancestors. It is the first time Taiwan’s former President has ever been invited to China since its founding in 1949.
During his tenure as Taiwan’s President between 2008 and 2016, Ma focused on establishing greater economic cooperation between Beijing and Taipei. The decision sparked protests that witnessed demonstrators occupying Taiwan’s legislature for weeks, as per the news report.
Debris from China’s rocket launch fall into ‘no-fly zone’
China launched a satellite into orbit with some rockets debris falling into a “no-fly zone” off the coast of northern Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said adding that it did not pose a safety threat, reported FocusTaiwan.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said that the forces had monitored the whole process of the rocket launch through joint intelligence and surveillance. Notably, China informed Taiwan that a no-fly zone will be implemented north of the country the following week, NHK World reported, citing Taiwan’s transportation ministry on April 11.
The no-fly zone, located 85 nautical miles north of Taiwan and within the Taipei Flight Information Region, was marked out for a 27-minute period from 9:30 a.m. to 9:57 a.m. Sunday because of the possibility of falling rocket debris, according to FocusTaiwan.
Earlier, China reportedly warned Taiwan’s northern flight information zone of the upcoming airspace closure, to conduct aerospace activities in the area.
China said the duration would be five hours per day from April 16-18. However, it will be reduced to about half an hour on only April 16, following the complaint lodged by Taiwan’s ministry, NHK World reported.
The transportation ministry cautioned that the shutdown was inappropriate and would provide significant and unnecessary safety hazards in its complaint against China.
China intends to block airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s defence minister, who stated that defence officials will closely monitor Beijing’s aerospace actions, which may include a potential satellite launch, according to NHK World.
As tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate, Taiwan recently tracked the People’s Liberation Army’s 18 aircraft and 4 naval ships from 6 am on Monday (April 10) to Tuesday (April 11).
In an official release, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry stated, “18 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 4 of the detected aircraft had entered Taiwan’s southwest and southeast ADIZ. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.” (ANI)
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