China warns US 'not to play the Taiwan card' because it is a 'losing hand' after bipartisan lawmakers met island's 'kick-a**' president in surprise visit in defiance of Beijing
China has warned the US 'not to play the Taiwan card' because it is a 'losing hand' after bipartisan lawmakers visited the island and met its 'kick-a**' president.
In defiance of Beijing, the group of five U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday morning in a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm the United States' 'rock solid' support for the self-governing island
But the Chinese foreign ministry said afterwards Beijing had lodged stern representations with the US over the visit.
'We advise some people in the United States not to play the Taiwan card, because it's a bad card, and a losing hand,' Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the foreign ministry, said at a regular media briefing.
The United States should abide by the one China policy and immediately stop official exchanges with Taiwan in any form, and clear any obstacles for Sino-U.S. relations in advance, Zhao warned.
The bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives arrived in Taiwan on Thursday night and were planning to meet with senior leaders including Tsai, said the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy.
No further details were provided about their itinerary.
Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, tweeted: 'I'm midway through my visit to Taiwan & this much is clear: this place is on the rise.
'The fortitude & determination of the people, led by their dynamic (frankly, kick-a**) President, is downright inspiring — and I don't inspire easily. Democratic values still & always matter.'
Pictured: U.S. Representative Mark Takano, D-Calif. (left) talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (right) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021
In defiance of Beijing, the group of five U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday morning (pictured) in a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm the United States' 'rock solid' support for the self-governing islan
The visit and subsequent rebuke from Beijing comes as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades.
Taiwan has been self-ruled since the two sides split during a civil war in 1949.
However, China considers the island part of its own territory and has suggested it plans to one day re-take the island, with force if necessary.
'When news of our trip broke yesterday, my office received a blunt message from the Chinese Embassy, telling me to call off the trip,' said Slotkin.
She was accompanied by three other Democrats - Mark Takano and Sara Jacobs of California and Colin Allred of Texas - and one Republican, Nancy Mace of South Carolina.
'We are here in Taiwan this week to remind our partners and allies, after two trying years that we've endured, that our commitment and shared responsibility for a free and secure Indo-Pacific region remain stronger than ever,' said Takano.
Takano added that the U.S. relationship with Taiwan is 'rock solid and has remained steadfast as the ties between us have deepened.'
Nancy Mace, the only Republican among the five representatives, is pictured in November 2020 at an election night party. She and the other four landed in Taiwan on Thursday
Tsai, who welcomed the lawmakers and the AIT director at the Presidential Office in Taipei, noted the two sides' cooperation in veterans' affairs, economic issues and trade while reiterating the island's close alignment with the U.S.
'Taiwan will continue to step up cooperation with the United States in order to uphold our shared values of freedom and democracy and to ensure peace and stability in the region,' Tsai said.
The visit is the third by U.S. lawmakers to Taiwan this year and comes just a few weeks after a group of six Republican members of Congress visited the island.
That delegation met with President Tsai, National Security Secretary General Wellington Koo and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, among others.
In June, three members of Congress flew to Taiwan to donate badly needed vaccines at a time when the island was struggling to get enough.
The Biden administration has also invited Taiwan to a Summit for Democracy next month, a move that drew a sharp rebuke from China.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday: 'What the U.S. did proves that the so-called democracy is just a pretext and tool for it to pursue geopolitical goals, suppress other countries, divide the world, serve its own interest and maintain its hegemony in the world.'
The five spent part of Thanksgiving serving lunch to some of the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea before jetting off to Taiwan.
'Enjoyed serving our troops today,' Mace tweeted.
'Many of our soldiers haven't been able to visit home or have their families visit them since the start of COVID. Incredibly important to give our men and women in uniform a heartfelt thanks.'
Takano of California, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, was also among the politicians who helped scoop food onto soldiers' plates and tossed a football with them.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (right) joined four Democrats in a tour of three east Asian countries, including South Korea, where she helped serve food to US troops on Thanksgiving
Rep. Colin Allred is seen tossing a football with an American troop during the South Korea visit
Rep. Sara Jacobs dished out food to soldiers before the delegation headed to Taiwan
A group of Congress members, including Democratic Rep. Mark Takano of California, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs of California expressed gratitude to American troops on Twitter and showed their appreciation in person by serving US soldiers stationed in South Korea
'We are thankful for their service and for the opportunity to show them our utmost appreciation for all they do each and every day,' Takano tweeted.
Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs of California said she was honored to help nourish the soldiers.
'We ask so much of military families, especially during Covid,' she tweeted. 'With so many unable to travel home to see family, I felt it was important to visit and I'm thankful for the opportunity to show them our gratitude.'
Earlier in the week, the delegation met with 1st Special Forces and South Korean officials to discuss maintaining stability in the region.
The trip included a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has served as a buffer between North and South Korea since the Korean War and was famously visited by then-President Donald Trump, who crossed the border into North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un.
It was preceded by a trip to Okinawa, Japan, where lawmakers met with military commanders to learn more about veterans and overseas healthcare.
A congressional report released earlier this month revealed the Chinese military is reaching the capability to take over the island.
'The PLA [People's Liberation Army] has already achieved the capabilities needed to conduct an air and naval blockade, cyberattacks, and missile strikes against Taiwan,' according to a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressionally-appointed agency designated to provide national security and economic advice to Congress and the president.
'PLA leaders now likely assess they have, or will soon have, the initial capability needed to conduct a high-risk invasion of Taiwan if ordered to do so by CCP leaders. They will continue enhancing this capability in the coming years.'
Soldiers carrying machine guns and grenades take part in a military exercise simulating an invasion from China
A US-made fighter jet releases flames during a drill in Taiwan
China considers Taiwan to be nothing more than an unruly extension of mainland territory.
The U.S. recognized the island democracy's autonomy until 1979, but the two nation's still enjoy a 'robust unofficial relationship.'
The White House has sent out confusing messages on its policy toward Taiwan, with President Biden first saying the US 'absolutely' had a duty to defend the island if it were attacked.
Hours later, the president's press shop put out a statement saying there was no policy change, the US was still following the Taiwan Relations Act's policy of strategic ambiguity.
Biden previously told a crowd he had made little progress to stop China's encroachment on Taiwan, but ruffled feathers in Beijing when he used the word 'independence.'
The president and First Lady Jill Biden also paid tribute to troops on Thanksgiving.
The couple visited the U.S. Coast Guard Station Brant Point in Nantucket where they had virtual calls with troops around the world, and met with U.S. Coast Guard personnel on the ground.
They also released a heartfelt video on Twitter, where they thanked troops for their service and commiserated with families who have lost loved ones to COVID.
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