A group of delegates from France and the US are visiting the island of Taiwan despite China’s escalated military warning shots against the acclaimed self-governing island.
What’s more
This visit of legislators from the two world power nations could further trigger Beijing into a more aggressive military action against the Taipei government which it had banned from engaging in diplomatic actions with foreign powers.
- The visit of five French and eight US Delegates brings the number of visits from the French to four times in a year and the number of visits by the US to six times since China began its military exercises.
What they are saying
Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wen, speaking on the visits by US delegates said that this reveals the importance of Taiwan to the nations.
- On the other hand, France Senator Cyril Pellevat said in an interview that his country had stakes in the country and it considers it a partner in maintaining stability in the region.
In case you missed it
The US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan last month after the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China, had threatened to carry out military action if the US Speaker and her entourage dared to visit the country.
Nancy Pelosi, as part of a planned tour of US-friendly nations in Asia, visited the self-governing and democratic island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province that they would inevitably reclaim.
The Chinese government then launched military ships and planes across the Taiwanese territories (sky and water) and even launched missiles over the island’s capital, Taipei. China has, in a show of strength, launched its largest and most aggressive live war drills in years.
These military drills have grounded flights and disrupted shipping activities in one of the top zones known for global trade.
Regardless, the US has sent 28 members of Congress since China’s military agitation started.