| Translate This News In |
|---|
After President Tsai Ing-wen visited US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, Taiwan’s defence ministry reported on Thursday that three Chinese warships and an anti-submarine helicopter had been spotted near the self-governing island.
According to a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, “1 PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN vessels were detected around Taiwan by 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today.”
“Armed Forces have monitored the situation and given CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and land-based missile systems instructions to respond to these activities,” it continued.
The declaration was made after Tsai encountered McCarthy in California during a layover on her way home from a trip to Belize and Guatemala, two of Taiwan’s 13 diplomatic allies.
A “resolute” reaction from China to the meeting had been threatened.
Beijing has been accused of “obstructing” commerce in the Taiwan Strait by conducting on-site inspections of cargo and passenger ships, according to Taipei’s Mainland Affairs Council, the island’s top body for formulating China policy.
Without providing any additional information, Chinese maritime officials had previously stated that they were increasing patrols in the waters separating the island from the mainland.
The MAC declared that “the Chinese side’s action intentionally escalates cross-strait tensions.”
The normal trade between the two parties will be seriously harmed by this blatant violation of maritime law and the cross-strait shipping agreement.
