The visit of US congressmen to Taiwan seriously damages US-China relations and flagrantly violates the "One China" principle, as well as the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiqués.

This was stated on April 15 by the official representative of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Senior Colonel Wu Qian.

"The Chinese side strongly protests in this regard and has made a strict submission to the United States on this matter," he said in a statement.

Wu Qian stressed that the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) will take strong measures to prevent outside interference in Taiwan's affairs and stop attempts at separatism.

“The PLA is always ready and will take all necessary measures to repel any attempts of external interference and plans to break off the so-called independent Taiwan,” said the representative of the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

  • Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense

  • AP

  • © Andy Wong

In response to the actions of the American side, the PRC organizes military maneuvers in the Taiwan area in the East China Sea.

“On April 15, the Eastern Zone of the PLA Combat Command will conduct joint exercises to test the combat readiness of several branches and types of troops in the water area and airspace of the East China Sea and around Taiwan.

Destroyers, frigates, bombers, fighters and other forces will take part in them, ”the message on the website of the Chinese defense department says.

It is emphasized that the maneuvers are directed against the "repeated erroneous signals of the United States on the issue of Taiwan."

Recall that the day before, a delegation of US lawmakers headed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Taiwan on an unannounced visit.

According to local media, politicians stopped in Taipei on their way from Australia and intend to hold a series of meetings with representatives of the local administration.

Recall that Beijing lost de facto control over Taiwan as a result of the civil war - the forces of the conservative Kuomintang party retreated from the mainland entrenched themselves on the island.

From Beijing's point of view, Taiwan is an integral part of the PRC.

Taiwan does not have the status of a sovereign state, but it enjoys US military support.

As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said during a press conference on April 14, Washington should stop all official contacts with the region.

“Members of the US Congress must act in accordance with the US government's One China policy.

The US side must abide by the One China principle and the provisions of the China-US Three Joint Communiqués, stop official interaction with Taiwan, and not go further along this dangerous path," Zhao Lijian stressed.

  • Chinese Navy

  • globallookpress.com

  • © Xinhua/Zha Chunming

As experts recall, Washington took a course on raising the level of relations with Taipei during the presidency of Donald Trump, and the Joe Biden administration is only continuing this line.

“The Taiwan issue has a long history.

When the United States established diplomatic relations with the PRC in 1979, they undertook not to increase arms supplies to Taiwan and maintain only unofficial relations with it.

But under Trump, the Americans began to de facto send their official delegations there and increase arms exports.

Of course, such a policy cannot but irritate the Chinese, ”Alexander Lukin, director of the Center for East Asian and SCO Studies, explained in an interview with RT.

According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, by their actions the United States "continues to create pockets of instability."

“This applies not only to the pumping of Ukraine with NATO weapons, but, for example, to China.

<...> Washington cannot fail to understand how dangerous such provocative behavior towards nuclear powers is.

But they can’t stop anymore,” Zakharova wrote on Telegram.

Moreover, as Alexander Lukin notes, American politicians themselves are sometimes unable to clearly articulate the ultimate goal of their actions.

“There is just a certain ideological setting, according to which Taiwan is a democratic pro-American entity, so China’s attempts to return Taiwan under Chinese jurisdiction should be hindered,” the analyst says.

"The American side is testing the soil"

At the same time, the White House attributes to the Chinese authorities possible plans for an attack on Taiwan.

As Joe Biden's national security aide Jake Sullivan said, speaking at a conference organized by the Economic Club of Washington, the American leadership will take all measures to prevent the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China by force.

He also compared the situation around the island with Ukraine.

“We have, of course, expressed concern about Chinese efforts to change the status quo unilaterally, and we think they are closely watching what is happening in Ukraine to learn obvious lessons, including on Taiwan,” Sullivan said.

He stressed that for the United States, the situation with Ukraine and Taiwan is not the same thing.

Cooperation between Washington and Taipei, including on security issues, is regulated by the law on relations with Taiwan.

  • Joe Biden National Security Assistant Jake Sullivan

  • © Andrew Harnik

“This (military clashes. -

RT

) can happen in Europe, this can happen in the Indo-Pacific region.

Responsible countries must send a clear signal that any aggression is unacceptable, wherever it occurs,” Sullivan added.

At the same time, Washington encourages the independence of Taipei.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier that the United States supports the invitation of Taiwan as an observer to the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May this year.

“We believe that Taiwan, in accordance with its status, should take a meaningful part in the work of international organizations.

We will continue to support this,” Price said.

However, experts doubt that Washington will decide to recognize the independence of the island.

“It is hardly possible, because this step would mean a break in diplomatic relations with China.

However, the American side is testing the waters, watching the reaction of Beijing,” Alexander Lukin explained.

In early April, the US State Department approved the conclusion of an agreement with Taipei on the maintenance of American Patriot air defense systems.

The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, speaking at a hearing in the Committee on Armed Forces of the lower house of the US Congress, said that the American side would continue to supply weapons to the administration of the region for self-defense.

In turn, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, General Mark Milley, suggested that the authorities of the island study the tactics of the Ukrainian military command.

As an example, the general cited the distribution of weapons to the civilian population.

In addition, Milley noted the advantages of the island's terrain for defensive military operations.

“There is only one approach, only the players change”

Meanwhile, political analysts doubt that the Chinese leadership plans to resolve the dispute with Taipei by military means.

“Such a step could lead to a direct clash with the American army, to losses for the Chinese economy.

Yes, and Taiwan will suffer as a result of such a campaign, which the PRC does not need.

Therefore, such a scenario is unlikely, ”Lukin explained.

Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, shares a similar opinion.

  • Taiwanese military

  • AP

  • © Military News Agency

“China is taking a wait-and-see attitude, it is not profitable for it to go into direct confrontation with the United States now.

Because time is working for Beijing - China is becoming stronger every year, and the United States is weakening.

Therefore, the Americans are trying right now to provoke China into drastic steps, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

According to him, although the issue of Taiwan is a “red line” for the PRC, Beijing most likely intends to reintegrate the island not by force, but gradually drawing it into the economic and political orbit of mainland China.

“As the PRC strengthens, more and more players in the region, who are now pro-American, will first lean towards neutrality, and then completely take a pro-Chinese position,” predicts Blokhin.

At the same time, he considers it quite appropriate to draw certain parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan.

Thus, the United States used the Ukrainian issue to consolidate the anti-Russian agenda in Europe, and Taiwan serves as an instrument of anti-Chinese policy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This is one approach, only the players change depending on the region.

And the goal of the United States is to simultaneously contain both China and Russia.

With regard to China, Washington will be satisfied with the option of constantly escalating military-political tension in the region, and even an open military conflict.

In the latter case, Washington will be able to consolidate all its current and potential allies in the Asia-Pacific region, who will have to choose a side and, possibly, participate in a confrontation with China.

This, too, will suit the Americans, ”summed up Blokhin.