Tsai Ing-wen and McCarthy Speak with 'One Voice'... China Furious, Vows "Strong Measures" (Comprehensive)

US 3rd in Power - Taiwan President's First Official Meeting in US
China Warns "Immediately Halt Exchanges"

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 expressed a shared commitment to speak with one voice on China-related issues. China reacted strongly, calling for a halt to exchanges between the two sides and warning that it would take "strong measures."

According to major foreign media such as CNN, President Tsai met with Speaker McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles, California, on the morning of the same day. Before starting the luncheon press conference, Speaker McCarthy warmly welcomed President Tsai, calling her "a great friend of the United States," to which President Tsai responded, "Taiwan is not isolated, and we are not alone."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

McCarthy also said, "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," adding, "I believe the bond is stronger than ever." He particularly mentioned that the U.S. should strengthen economic cooperation in trade and technology and continue arms sales to Taiwan, emphasizing, "We will speak with one voice on the China issue."

Regarding this, Bloomberg reported that this was the first high-level meeting between the two countries on U.S. soil in 40 years since the U.S. established diplomatic relations with China in 1979 and severed ties with Taiwan in accordance with China's demand to recognize only "One China." However, the U.S. has maintained substantive diplomatic relations with Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides for defensive arms sales to maintain Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and allows visits by high-ranking officials. President Tsai's visit to the U.S. was part of a 9-night, 10-day tour of two Central American countries starting on the 29th of last month, with the U.S. serving as a transit point.

China immediately opposed the meeting and announced "strong measures." In a spokesperson statement released on the 6th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that President Tsai's visit to the U.S. "seriously violates the One China principle and the three joint communiques (including the diplomatic communique) and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," adding, "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this." It also claimed that the essence of the meeting was "collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan, with 'Taiwan independence' separatists participating in U.S. political activities and official exchanges."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Furthermore, the statement emphasized, "The Taiwan issue is a core interest of China and the first 'red line' in China-U.S. relations that cannot be crossed," adding, "Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and is a dead-end path." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further stated, "In response to the serious mistake of U.S.-Taiwan collusion, China will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Addressing the United States, it urged, "Abide by the One China principle and the provisions of the three joint communiques, and ensure that U.S. leaders do not support 'Taiwan independence' or 'two Chinas,'" emphasizing, "Immediately suspend all forms of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan, stop deepening substantive relations and escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and cease using Taiwan to contain China." It warned, "Do not continue down this wrong and dangerous path." On the same day, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, China's parliamentary body, also issued a statement criticizing McCarthy's actions as "seriously breaking the promises made by the U.S. to China on the Taiwan issue and sending seriously wrong signals to separatist forces pursuing Taiwan independence." It added, "It tramples on historical facts and justice and undermines international rule of law." Earlier, the Chinese military's aircraft carrier Shandong task force conducted navigation training through the southeastern waters of Taiwan, and the maritime authorities of Fujian Province, facing Taiwan, carried out joint cruising and patrol operations in the northern and central Taiwan Strait, heightening military tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

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