China vows decisive response after Tsai-McCarthy meeting

China vowed on Thursday to take “firm and resolute action” after a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California as a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed nearby. of Taiwan, putting the island’s army on guard.

At the same time, the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was sailing in waters east of Taiwan, 740 kilometers (400 nautical miles) from the island, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

The Nimitz may be helping Taiwan “monitor and prevent Chinese military actions in the worst case,” a Taiwanese military analyst said.

Tsai’s transit in the US and her meeting with McCarthy has sparked protests from multiple major institutions in China, including the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National People’s Congress and the Communist Party Headquarters, Shen Ming-shih from Taiwan. The leading group of military experts INDSR told Radio Free Asia.

‘Violation of China’s sovereignty’

In a declaration Posted Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the “high-profile” meeting between the Taiwanese leader and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, as well as Tsai’s stops in the United States.

“This is essentially the United States’ action with Taiwan to collude with the political activities of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists in the United States,” the statement said, “seriously infringing China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He accused the United States of “crossing the line and acting provocatively” against China.

“This has put cross-strait relations in serious difficulties.”

“The Taiwan issue is at the core of China’s core interests and is the first red line not to be crossed in China-US relations,” the ministry reiterated.

“China will take strong and resolute measures to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he warned.

In the week before the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, there was no noticeable increase in Chinese military movements near Taiwan, leading to the Taiwan’s Homeland Security chief Tsai Ming-yen predicted that “the government expected a less severe reaction” from Beijing than when McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan last August.

However, on Wednesday, as Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles, China’s Shandong aircraft carrier group “passed through the Bashi Channel and entered southeast Taiwan waters,” Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported. .

Intimidation

The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed in a declaration issued on Thursday that three Chinese warships, including the Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Shandong, a Zhangkai II-class frigate and a Fuyu-class fast combat support ship, were sighted sailing in the western Pacific Ocean.

He said that this is the first time that the Shandong has sailed in the Pacific Ocean. Chinese media also said it is Shandong’s first exercise in the western Pacific as its usual area of ​​operations is the South China Sea.

An image of the Chinese aircraft carrier released with the statement shows a large number of combat aircraft on the deck, including J-15 multirole fighters, Z-18 transport helicopters and at least one Z-9 reconnaissance helicopter.

from taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told lawmakers that as of Thursday morning, the Chinese aircraft carrier was located 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) east of Pingtung County in southern Taiwan.

The carrier-based aircraft is supposed to undergo some flight training, Chiu said, but “no aircraft have taken off or landed yet.” He said that he could not rule out that the carrier is preparing for a military exercise.

“One of the main purposes of the current Shandong mission is to issue a warning to Taiwan and the United States,” said Shen Ming-shih, who is acting deputy executive director of the National Defense and Security Research Institute.

“When President Tsai’s plane flies from Los Angeles to Taiwan, the Chinese aircraft carrier may deliberately move closer to the route,” Shen said, adding that, in his view, “it is only for intimidation and not for actual attack.”

The analyst told RFA that the Taiwanese and US militaries have already prepared for possible events.

Minister Chiu said the Taiwanese military is monitoring the situation closely and has instructed aircraft, navy ships and ground-based missile systems to respond accordingly.

A pair of Taiwan Navy frigates are currently only 10 kilometers from Shandong.

He the minister also said that the American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is currently 400 nautical miles (740 kilometers) east of Taiwan.

While he can’t confirm that Nimitz is here because of Shandong, given the situation, “there is a connection.”

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier just took part in a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japanese and South Korean navies in the East China Sea from April 3-4.

The US Navy said in a declaration that currently “ships of the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group are conducting operations in the US 7he Fleet Region”, which covers most of the Indo-Pacific.