China stages military exercises as bipartisan group of US lawmakers visit Taiwan

China mentioned that its army staged workouts on Friday in response to U.S. lawmakers’ official go to to Taiwan. 

Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian mentioned that the drills carried out by the Folks’s Liberation Military’s Japanese Theater Command in areas reverse Taiwan have been “a countermeasure to the current damaging actions of the U.S., together with the go to of a delegation of lawmakers to Taiwan.”

He pledged that China would “proceed to take robust measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

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The Japanese Theater Command described the workouts as “a needed motion based mostly on the current safety state of affairs within the Taiwan Strait and the necessity to safeguard nationwide sovereignty.”

“Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable a part of Chinese language territory. There isn’t a room for any international interference on the Taiwan difficulty,” its assertion mentioned.

China is towards any official exchanges between the Taiwanese authorities and different international governments as a result of it claims Taiwan is a part of its nationwide territory and never an unbiased nation. China and Taiwan cut up after a civil struggle in 1949.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers from each the Home and Senate met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday morning. 

They have been additionally scheduled to satisfy with Taiwan’s protection minister forward of their departure later within the day. 

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The lawmakers visiting included Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Rob Portman of Ohio, Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, and Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez.

Menendez praised Taiwan’s democracy, noting that the delegation seeks “no battle with China as [he believes] Taiwan seeks no battle with China.”

“It’s a nation of world significance, of world consequence, of world influence, and due to this fact it needs to be understood the safety of Taiwan has a world influence for many who would need it in poor health,” the pinnacle of the Senate’s International Relations Committee mentioned. 

The journey – beforehand condemned by the Chinese language authorities in a press release – comes amid continued fears that China might transfer to invade Taiwan, stoked because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Following China’s growing aggression within the area, some say Russia’s actions might embolden China to take a few of its personal. 

Tsai mentioned she welcomed the lawmakers and hoped the go to would assist to additional strengthen U.S.-Taiwan cooperation.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has confirmed that democracies should bolster their alliances and collectively we are able to defend ourselves from the threats posed by authoritarian nations that search to disrupt regional peace,” the president mentioned. 

America is the island’s greatest unofficial ally and has stepped up weapons gross sales to Taiwan in previous years.

Fox Information’ Anders Hagstrom and The Related Press contributed to this report.