China this Friday (7) sent ships and military planes to the outskirts of Taiwan for the second straight day, island authorities said after the island’s president drew outrage from Beijing Meeting with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Three warships sailed in waters near this selfgoverning island, while a fighter jet and an antisubmarine helicopter entered the air defense identification zone, Taiwan’s defense ministry said.
On Thursday, Taiwan spotted three ships and a helicopter near its territory..
In addition, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong passed through the southeast of the island on Wednesday, hours before the meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ingwen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.
Before leaving the California city to return to Taipei, the Taiwanese leader said her government is committed to ensuring her people’s “free and democratic lifestyle.” “We hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability,” he added.
Beijing has warned of a meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, the second name in the succession to the US president, and on Thursday said it would take “firm and effective measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China considers this selfgoverning island part of its territory and says it intends to regain control in the future, including by force if it deems necessary.
Beijing has tried to isolate the island from the international scene in recent years and expresses its irritation when Taiwanese authorities maintain contacts with representatives of other countries.
In August last year Visit of Nancy Pelosi in TaipeiMcCarthy’s predecessor as Speaker of the House led to this unprecedented military maneuvers by the Chinese army around the island.
To avoid a similar episode, McCarthy chose to meet Tsai during the ruler’s stopover in the United States, which has so far provoked a less violent reaction in Beijing.