Meeting Scheduled with US House Speaker
China: "If We Meet, We Will Take Resolute Retaliatory Measures"
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who embarked on a diplomatic visit to allied countries, emphasized Taiwan's determination to engage with the world, stating that "external pressure will not deter Taiwan's resolve."
According to major foreign media including CNN on the 29th, President Tsai made these remarks as she departed from Taoyuan Airport for a 9-night, 10-day visit to Guatemala and Belize under the theme "Partners of Democracy, Journey of Shared Prosperity."
In a statement released at the airport, President Tsai said, "We want to demonstrate our determination to deepen exchanges and cooperation with our allies, and at the same time clearly convey three messages." She emphasized, "Taiwan firmly upholds the values of freedom and democracy and will continue to be a positive force in the international community." She added, "As a key player in the global economy, Taiwan will persistently pursue shared prosperity with our allied countries. Taiwan's determination to engage with the world will only grow stronger. Taiwan is the world’s Taiwan, and leading Taiwan to the world and bringing the world to Taiwan is an important goal of our administration."
She also stressed, "External pressure will not hinder Taiwan's resolve," adding, "We are calm and confident, and we will neither yield nor provoke." President Tsai further asserted, "Taiwan will steadfastly follow the path of freedom and democracy to engage with the world. Although this path is challenging, Taiwan is not alone."
President Tsai's remarks are drawing attention because she is likely to meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States on this trip. President Tsai is scheduled to arrive in New York at around 3 p.m. local time on the 29th, hold a dinner with the Korean-American community, and attend an event at the Hudson Institute think tank on the 30th. She will then proceed with her visits to Guatemala and Belize before returning home via a stopover in Los Angeles (LA). It is expected that she will meet Speaker McCarthy at the Reagan Library after delivering a speech during her LA visit on the 5th of next month.
China has already issued strong warnings regarding the meeting between the two sides. At a regular briefing on the same day, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, stated, "If she contacts Speaker McCarthy, it will be a serious violation of the One-China principle, undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and constitute another provocation that damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." She warned, "We firmly oppose this and will take resolute countermeasures."
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