Beijing slams Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s ‘sneaky transit’ in US and warns of ‘resolute response’ to meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

Name: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrives in New York on sensitive US stopover
Uploaded: 2023-04-04T13:00:18.000Z
Duration: 3 min 45 s
Description: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrives in New York on sensitive US stopover

Beijing repeatedly warned it will respond to the meeting, which it sees as a violation of its sovereignty, but the scale of its reaction remains to be seen

McCarthy has said a bipartisan group of lawmakers will attend the meeting, the first of its kind on US soil since Washington switched diplomatic sides in 1979

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Tsai Ing-wen pictured on a visit to a farm in Belize on Tuesday. She will later travel to California. Photo: Reuters

Lawrence Chungin Taipei

Published: 9:00pm, 4 Apr 2023Updated: 10:20pm, 4 Apr 2023

Beijing has hit out at Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s “sneaky transit” in the United States after the island’s government confirmed a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would go ahead on Wednesday.

The two will meet at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley near Los Angeles on Wednesday, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers also attending, McCarthy’s office announced on Monday.

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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrives in New York on sensitive US stopover

The meeting will be the first time a Taiwanese leader has met a House speaker, the third-ranking US official, on American soil since Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979.

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its territory to be brought under control – by force, if necessary – has repeatedly vowed to take “resolute measures” if the meeting goes ahead.

The US, in common with many countries, does not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state but opposes the use of force to change the status quo.

Tsai arrived in New York on March 29, before travelling to visit Taiwan’s central American allies of Guatemala and Belize. She is set to land in California on Tuesday night local time on the final leg of her 10-day tour.