Beijing threatens to 'retaliate' if Taiwanese president meets McCarthy in US

China warns it will retaliate if Tsai Ing-wen meets with the speaker of the US House of Representatives. Warning launched this Wednesday, March 29 while the trip of the Taiwanese president in Central America could include two stops in the United States. REUTERS - ANN WANG

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China warns it will retaliate if Tsai Ing-wen meets with the speaker of the US House of Representatives. Warning launched this Wednesday, March 29 while the trip of the Taiwanese president in Central America could include two stops in the United States.

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Even before it took place, this "American transit" of the Taiwanese president was described as "sneaky" by Chinese diplomacy, reports our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman recalled that China had expressed its "solemn protests" to the White House.

A meeting between Tsai Ing-wen and Kevin McCarthy would indeed be tantamount to encouraging what Chinese leaders consider to be "separatist forces", namely the Taiwanese government. The warning came hours before Tsai Ing-wen's departure for Central America. Ten days of travel to meet Taipei's allies – Guatemala and Belize – after losing Honduras.

Taiwanese provocations

Taiwan refuses to be locked in isolation. The head of state is expected to make two stops in the United States. It is in Los Angeles, at the end of the journey, that she could meet the speaker of the US House of Representatives. A visit that is not unusual according to Washington, but that angers the Chinese authorities.

If the meeting goes ahead, it would be a highlight for Taipei in its transit diplomacy. Beijing vowed to "resolutely retaliate" against "provocations," said the spokesman for Taiwan's affairs office at China's State Council.

READ ALSO: The United States ready to use force to defend Taiwan in case of invasion of China

Once on American soil, the Taiwanese leader is due to deliver a closed-door speech to the Hudson Institute in New York, a conservative think tank hostile to China. But even the most bellicose circles set a red line.

"Do not cross the line that would kill diplomacy"

Only Mike Pompeo, the former head of US diplomacy under Donald Trump, is pushing for Washington to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. But his radical discourse did not pass through the ranks of the institution.

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I don't think the U.S. should officially recognize Taiwan because we would cut ties with China. The United States and China do not want a war. Yes, we want to protect Taiwan, but we must not provoke conflict, it is a question of balance. It is tempting to pretend that the United States must recognize Taiwan, but it must be seen that this is a considerable risk. We have to be more careful than that," says Patrick Cronin, head of the Asia-Pacific Chair at the Hudson Institute.

But what is the room for maneuver in the United States? "The arms deliveries we have long announced and promised have fallen short. We can do better, so if China reacts very harshly, the United States will try to provide even more military equipment and financial support to Taiwan. In fact, we try to maintain this status quo a little rough with China, but without crossing this line that would kill diplomacy because that's how we have kept the peace so far, "continues Patrick Cronin, before concluding: "I am thinking especially of the 24 million Taiwanese. We have a responsibility to make them talk on an equal footing with the Chinese government.

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  • China
  • Taiwan
  • United States
  • Diplomacy