McCarthy Meets Tsai Ing-wen: "We Will Speak with One Voice on China Issues"

US House Speaker Meets with Taiwan President in LA

Kevin McCarthy, the third-ranking power in the United States and Speaker of the House, held his first official meeting on U.S. soil with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on the 5th (local time). Speaker McCarthy emphasized the bond with Taiwan and agreed that both countries would speak with one voice on the China issue.

President Tsai met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles, California, in the morning. Arriving first at the meeting place, Speaker McCarthy greeted President Tsai with a handshake as she stepped out of her car. They then entered together and began a luncheon press conference, during which McCarthy referred to Tsai as "a great friend of the United States."

Speaker McCarthy went on to say, "I am optimistic that we will continue to find ways to promote economic freedom, democracy, peace, and stability for the people of the United States and Taiwan," emphasizing, "I believe our bond is stronger than ever."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

President Tsai responded to McCarthy's hospitality by saying she was "pleased" and stressed that "(Taiwan) is facing unprecedented challenges," adding, "Taiwan is not isolated, and we are not alone."

McCarthy stated that the U.S. should strengthen economic cooperation in trade and technology and continue arms sales to Taiwan. He emphasized, "We will speak with one voice on the China issue." Although he has no immediate plans to visit Taiwan, he did not rule out the possibility of a future visit.

About ten members of the House of Representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties, including Democrat Pete Aguilar, accompanied the meeting. The subsequent press conference was held privately.

Bloomberg News reported that the meeting between President Tsai and Speaker McCarthy was the highest-level bilateral meeting held on U.S. soil for the first time in 40 years since the U.S. established diplomatic relations with China in 1979 and severed ties with Taiwan under China's demand to recognize only "One China."

However, the U.S. has continued to maintain substantive diplomatic relations with Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act. The Taiwan Relations Act stipulates the provision of defensive weapons to maintain Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and allows high-ranking Taiwanese officials to visit the U.S.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

President Tsai embarked on a nine-night, ten-day tour of two Central American countries via the U.S. starting on the 29th of last month. After passing through New York, she visited Guatemala and Belize, which have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and stopped in California on her way back home.

On the day of the meeting between Speaker McCarthy and President Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, supporters of President Tsai and pro-China group members gathered in front of the venue. Those holding Taiwanese flags shouted "Stay strong, Taiwan" to welcome President Tsai, while members of the pro-China groups protested loudly, shouting "Go back to Taiwan."

After Speaker McCarthy and President Tsai entered the building, a small plane flew around the area with a banner that read "One China! Taiwan is part of China!"

China has strongly opposed President Tsai's visit to the U.S. and the meeting with the Speaker of the House. The day before, the Chinese military's aircraft carrier Shandong task force conducted navigation training through the southeastern waters of Taiwan. Additionally, the Maritime Safety Administration of China's Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan, announced the start of joint cruising and patrol operations in the northern and central Taiwan Strait.

However, the U.S. government holds the position that since President Tsai has already visited the U.S. six times in transit and has had contact with lawmakers during past visits, China does not need to overreact.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated before the meeting between Speaker McCarthy and President Tsai, "The transit of high-ranking Taiwanese officials through the U.S. is nothing new," adding, "China should not use this as a pretext to escalate tensions or take actions to change the status quo around Taiwan."

China strongly opposed former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August last year by conducting large-scale live-fire exercises surrounding the island and repeatedly sending military aircraft into the median line of the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Former Speaker Pelosi visited Taiwan for the first time in 25 years as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives at that time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.