China should not “overreact” by using Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s stopover in the United States. As a “pretext” for aggression against the democratically governed island of Taiwan, a senior US official said earlier today.
“There’s absolutely no reason for China to overreact or engage in further coercion directed at Taiwan president visit. A senior administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was scheduled to depart for the United States on Wednesday. On her en-route to strengthen ties with Guatemala and Belize after China acquired another of the self-ruled island’s few diplomatic allies last week.
Honduras diplomatic ties with China
After Honduras opened diplomatic ties with China on Sunday. Belize and Guatemala are among only 13 countries that officially recognise democratic Taipei over Beijing.
China claims the self-ruled island as part of its property. Which will be reclaimed one day – by force if necessary. No nation may keep official ties with both Beijing and Taipei under the “One China” principle.
President Tsai will continue her 10-day journey after visiting New York by meeting with Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei and Belize Prime Minister John Briceno.
She will then make a detour in Los Angeles before returning to Taiwan.
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will visit Tsai in California, which Beijing has condemned. Taiwanese officials have not verified the meeting with McCarthy or Tsai’s itinerary in New York.
Last year, McCarthy’s predecessor’s visit to Taiwan elicited an angry reaction from Beijing. With the Chinese military performing unprecedented drills around the island. Taipei claimed the drills were in preparation for an attack.
Analysts say Taiwan’s president’s visit to the United States comes at a critical juncture. With Beijing increasing military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on the island since Tsai took office in 2016, poaching nine diplomatic allies in the process.
“Beijing’s attempts to poach Taiwan’s diplomatic partners will lead to Taiwan. Developing closer ties with the United States,” said James Lee, an Academia Sinica researcher on US-Taiwan relations.
While the visit was planned before Honduras revealed its decision, Lee believes the timing is significant.
Despite switching its formal recognition to Beijing in 1979. The United States remains Taiwan’s most important foreign ally – and its largest arms supplier.
Lee stated that the strength of Taiwan’s unofficial allegiances was just as essential as official ties.
“The loss of official relations with third countries will be compensated for by a strengthening of Taiwan’s unofficial relations,” he said.
Official and Unofficial Ties
China objects not only to official exchanges. But also to visits by politicians from nations with which Taiwan maintains unofficial ties.
Czech parliamentary speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova led a large group to the island this week. While Germany’s education minister made her country’s first cabinet-level visit to the island in 26 years last week.
Neither country maintains official ties with Taiwan, but the meetings still provoked angry responses from Beijing. Where a foreign ministry spokesman termed the German trip “malicious”.
