China Criticizes Possible Visit of Taiwan's Vice President to the U.S.

As Beijing intensifies its warnings regarding the visit of Taiwan's Vice President to the United States, Xi Feng, China's ambassador in Washington, stated that China's "priority" is to prevent William Lai, the Vice President and leading presidential candidate of Taiwan, from traveling to the U.S. According to Reuters, William Lai has a scheduled official stop in the United States during his trip to Paraguay for the inauguration of the new president on August 15, which has angered Beijing, labeling him a "separatist." Xi Feng, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, said, "Taiwan is Taiwan of China" and that China desires "peaceful reunification," but Taiwanese "separatists" are advancing their agendas and seeking support from the United States. He remarked, "They do not even accept that they are Chinese. This is a very dangerous path they are taking." Xi Feng added that the actions of the so-called provocative "separatists" in Taiwan must be contained. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense reported that on Thursday, 22 Chinese warplanes were detected around the island, some of which crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, while seven Chinese warships were also conducting "combat readiness patrols." Additionally, Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her government have repeatedly proposed negotiations with China, which have been rejected as Beijing considers them separatists. Both Tsai and Lai assert that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future. A senior American diplomat in Taipei stated on Wednesday that there is no reason for China to take "provocative" action in response to Lai's stop in the U.S., noting that such stops have been occurring routinely for years. In this context, Gilbert Teodoro, the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, announced on Thursday that the threat of a Chinese attack on Taiwan is monitored daily by the Philippines, a U.S. military ally, as part of Manila's preparations for potential conflict in the region. He told reporters, "We really need to assess whether such an attack is likely or not." The Philippine Defense Minister added, "Nevertheless, we continue to plan for all contingencies, not just for any point of conflict between China and Taiwan, but for any potential incident in the area." Among the five U.S. military allies in the Indo-Pacific, namely Australia, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand, the Philippines is the closest country to Taiwan, with its northernmost islands only 190 kilometers (118 miles) apart. Manila's priority is to ensure the safety of over 100,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan. The Philippines has repeatedly emphasized that it does not take sides in the U.S.-China rivalry. Relations between South Korea and China have cooled since Yoon Suk-yeol, the President of South Korea, stated in April this year that "the Taiwan issue is not merely a matter between China and Taiwan under democratic governance, but a global issue similar to North Korea," provoking Beijing's anger. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory. Taiwan and China separated in 1949. The island has never been part of the People's Republic of China, but the ruling Communist Party asserts that it will reclaim the island by force if necessary. The government of Xi Jinping has intensified its intimidation efforts against Taiwan by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island. In recent months, several American and European politicians have traveled to Taiwan to show support for its elected government. China is displeased with the flight of a U.S. aircraft over the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to China. Blinken in Beijing; the U.S. and China foreign ministers' dialogue was "honest" and "constructive." Blinken entered Beijing amid tensions over Taiwan and Chinese reconnaissance balloons. Tensions in East Asia; Chinese fighter jets crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. military released a video of a "unsafe" passage of a Chinese destroyer in the Taiwan Strait. China: Conflict with the U.S. would be an "unbearable disaster." The U.S. signed a trade agreement with Taiwan despite China's opposition.