White House says Tsai Ing-wen's 'private transit' through the US is in line with the One China policy.
In turn, Beijing warned that it would take action if the Taiwanese leader met with US politicians.
247/Sputnik - White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday (29) that Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen's transit through the United States is private, unofficial and consistent with the One China policy that Washington claims to follow.
The Taiwanese leader is on a 10-day diplomatic trip through South and Central America that includes a stopover in the United States. Beijing has become concerned about Tsai's plans to meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, during a stopover in Los Angeles.
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"This transit is consistent with our long-standing unofficial relationship with Taiwan and is consistent with the United States' One China policy, which remains unchanged. Taiwan's decision to make these transits is based on its own travel—transits are not travel, they are private and unofficial," Kirby said at a press conference.
Chinese authorities vow to take action if Taiwan's leader meets with McCarthy.
If Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen meets with McCarthy during her transit through the United States, it will seriously undermine Chinese sovereignty, and Beijing will take firm retaliatory measures, said Zhu Fenglian, assistant to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, on Wednesday.
"Taiwanese authorities are constantly making excuses, seizing every opportunity to pursue their 'independence' interests. The Taiwanese leader's so-called 'transit trip' is essentially a provocative act, seeking US assistance in achieving 'independence'... If she meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, it will seriously undermine the One China principle, as well as China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Zhu said.
According to the spokesperson, Tsai's transit will not be a simple stop at an airport or hotel, as she is looking for excuses to speak with various US officials and members of Congress.
On March 21, Taiwan's presidential office announced that the island's leader would travel to Belize and Guatemala, passing through the United States. Earlier in March, McCarthy told reporters that she would meet with the Taiwanese leader while she was in the U.S., but Tsai's office did not provide information about her agenda in the country.
Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing considers the island its province, while Taiwan—a territory with its own elected government—maintains that it is an autonomous country but does not declare independence. Beijing opposes any official contact between foreign states and Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable. To date, Taiwan is recognized by only 13 countries.