US says will take steps to counter China’s activity around Taiwan

The United States says it plans to adopt measures to counter China’s military and economic activity around Chinese Taipei, amid heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday that Washington would take steps in the near future to counter China’s presence around the self-ruled island.

“We will continue to take steps that are resolute but also calm to uphold peace and stability in the face of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to undermine the status quo. These steps across a range of areas will unfold over the coming weeks and months because we recognize that this challenge is a long term,” Price said during a press conference.

He added that Washington expected Beijing to continue what he called military intimidation and coercive economic tactics against Taipei in the coming weeks.

China has sovereignty over Chinese Taipei, and under the internationally-recognized “one-China” policy, nearly all countries, including the United States, recognize that sovereignty. However, in violation of its own stated policy and in an attempt to irritate Beijing, Washington continues to court the secessionist government in Taipei, supporting its anti-China stance and supplying it with massive amounts of armaments.

Early this month, US House Speaker Nancy made a brief trip to the island and met with its president in what was meant to be an affront to Beijing. China reacted by holding military drills in Chinese Taipei’s surrounding waters for several days.

China ready to fight enemies amid US attempts to undermine security: Defense minister

China’s defense minister says the country is fully prepared to fight its enemies amid attempts by the United States to undermine its sovereignty and security in the region, citing a recent visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Chinese Taipei.

Price further alleged that China had maintained a heightened military aerial and maritime posture around the self-ruled island despite the end of its military exercises.

The US State Department spokesman, however, claimed that any move by the US to counter China’s activity around Taipei would be consistent with the “one China” policy, the Taiwan Relations Act, and other measures.

The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979, defines the officially substantial but non-diplomatic relations between the US and Chinese Taipei.

The development came a day after China launched military exercises in five areas of the South China Sea off the coast of the southeastern Guangdong Province. Reports said that several zones of the Yellow Sea were also involved in the ongoing drills, which would last until Friday.

China slams provocative sail of US warship through Taiwan Strait

China has censured the latest passage of a US warship through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, saying such moves “deliberately” impair regional peace and stability.

Separately on Tuesday, China once again warned the US against sailing its warships through the strategically-sensitive Taiwan Strait, which separates Chinese Taipei from mainland China and straddles vital shipping lanes.

“The US side has done too much and going too far in this region. I do call on our American colleagues to refrain, to exercise restraint, not to do anything to escalate the tension. So if there’s any moves damaging China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, so China will respond. China will respond,” warned Qin Gang, China’s ambassador to Washington.

He added that Beijing viewed such transits as an escalation by the US and an effort to support the “separatist government” in Taipei.

US naval forces have been conducting such maneuvers near Chinese waters about once a month, irking Beijing, which considers the sailings as a sign of support for the self-governed island.

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