China carried out 'combat readiness patrol' as U.S. lawmakers visited Taipei (updated)
26/11/2021 14:21
(Recasts, adds Chinese military announcement of combat patrol,
Taiwan defence ministry comment, byline)
By Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - China's military carried out
"combat readiness" patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait
on Friday as a U.S. Congressional delegation made a surprise
visit to Taipei, offering strong support to the Chinese-claimed,
democratically governed island.
The five members of the U.S. House of Representatives
arrived in Taiwan on Thursday night for a previously unannounced
two-day trip, the second time in a month U.S. lawmakers have
visited.
As with the last visit https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-opposes-us-legislators-visiting-taiwan-by-military-plane-state-media-2021-11-09,
China's military announced the patrols in the vicinity of the
narrow and sensitive Taiwan Strait that separates the island
from its giant neighbour.
The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said
that on Friday it "organised naval and air forces to continue
combat readiness police patrols in direction of the Taiwan
Strait".
"The relevant actions are necessary to deal with the current
situation in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is part of China's
territory, and defending national sovereignty and territorial
integrity is our military's sacred mission."
It gave no details.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry, as part of its daily update of
Chinese air operations near the island, said that on Friday
eight Chinese air force aircraft, including two nuclear-capable
H-6 bombers, flew into Taiwan's air defence zone, though well
away from mainland Taiwan and close to the Taiwan-controlled
Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea.
CONGRESSIONAL VISIT
China routinely denounces visits by U.S. politicians to
Taiwan, and its foreign ministry said it had made a formal
complaint to Washington about the latest trip by the bipartisan
congressional group, saying playing the Taiwan card was "a
losing hand".
Meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at her office earlier
on Friday, the leader of the U.S. delegation praised the island
as a "force for good" in the world.
"Madame President, I want to commend and praise your
leadership. Under your administration, the bonds between us are
more positive and productive than they have been for decades,"
said Mark Takano, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, whose group was previously in Japan and South Korea.
"Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and has remained
steadfast as the ties between us have deepened. Taiwan is a
democratic success story, a reliable partner and a force for
good in the world," he added.
The United States, like most countries, has no official ties
with Taiwan but is the democratically-ruled island's most
important international backer and arms supplier.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who is part of the delegation,
tweeted that China's Washington embassy "demanded we cancel the
trip" when news of it broke.
"We didn't," she added, and posted a picture of herself
outside the U.S. Air Force jet that carried her to Taipei under
the caption "Just touched down in the Republic of Taiwan", a
term used by supporters of the island's formal independence.
China has stepped up military and political pressure on
Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. Tsai has vowed to
maintain peace with China, but that she will defend Taiwan if
attacked.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry and Toby
Chopra)
((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))