China deploys warships near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting

TAIPEI: China deployed warships through waters around Taiwan on Thursday as it vowed a “firm and forceful” response to the island’s president meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen held talks with McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, expressing gratitude afterwards for the meeting that included other US lawmakers.

“Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated, and we are not alone,” Tsai told reporters.

China had repeatedly warned both sides the meeting should not take place and deployed an aircraft carrier through waters southeast of Taiwan hours before the talks.

Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the island from mainland China, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday morning.

An anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed the island’s air defence identification zone, according to the ministry.

And China deployed coastguard vessels for unusual patrols that sparked a protest from Taiwan.

Despite Taiwan having been ruled separately for more than 70 years, China views it as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

China carried out its largest-ever air and sea exercises around Taiwan following a visit in August last year by McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, to the island.

China then deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan.

Its response to the McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on high alert.

Taiwan’s defence minister described the timing of the deployment of the Shandong, one of just two Chinese aircraft carriers, as “sensitive”.

“When an aircraft carrier comes out, there are usually takeoffs and landings for aircraft, but we have not found any takeoff or landing. We will keep watching,” Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters.

When asked if Shandong’s deployment was a prelude to Chinese military exercises, Chiu said: “We are not ruling this out”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently hosting French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen as the EU attempts to repair relations with Beijing.