China condemned a senior Pentagon official's visit to Taiwan and confirmed its sanctions on Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying military equipment to the island. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the Cabinet criticized the visit and reiterated that China opposes any official interaction and military collaboration between the US and Taiwan.
Deteriorating Relations between China and the US
The relationship between China and the US has declined due to issues such as Taiwan, technology, spying allegations, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, stated that Taiwan's attempts to secure independence with foreign assistance are doomed to fail.
Pentagon's Commitment to Taiwan
The Pentagon did not comment directly on the visit by Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China. However, a Pentagon spokesperson stated that their commitment to Taiwan is unwavering and contributes to peace and stability in the region. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had no information about such a visit.
China's Foreign Ministry's Statement
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, blamed the US for creating new tensions in the Taiwan Strait and urged the US to stop any official contact with Taiwan, meddling in the Taiwan issue and creating new tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Tensions Between US and China Escalate
Tensions between the US and China have risen again after Washington accused Beijing of sending a spy balloon that was shot down over the American East Coast. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a trip to Beijing due to the incident and expressed concern that China might provide weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
China and Russia's Strong Ties
China has declared a "no limits" friendship with Russia and has refrained from criticizing Moscow's actions, blaming the US and NATO for the situation instead. Russia has supported China over Taiwan. China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, stated during a visit to Moscow that the relationship between China and Russia is strong and will withstand the volatile international situation.
US Lawmakers Visit Taiwan
A delegation of US lawmakers visited Taiwan and met with President Tsai Ing-wen. The delegation discussed security and climate change issues with the Taiwanese president. The delegation also met with the head of the legislature and held talks with the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Visits the US
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and head of the National Security Council Wellington Koo visited Washington for security meetings. They were filmed entering the body's offices the US uses to oversee relations with Taiwan in place of formal diplomatic ties.
China's Response to Increased Exchanges with Taiwan
China has been reacting harshly to increased exchanges between Taiwan, officials, and elected representatives from the US and other democratic nations. China's diplomatic isolation campaign has left Taiwan with only 14 formal allies. Last Thursday, China imposed trade and investment sanctions against Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, adding them to the "unreliable entity" list.
