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Washington (AFP)
The US State Department confirmed on Saturday that US support for Taiwan remains “rock solid” despite “intimidation attempts” from China, which flew several of its planes over the airspace of the island the same day.
These statements are the first in Taiwan since US President Joe Biden took office this week.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that he “notes with concern the current trend in the People’s Republic of China to intimidate its neighbors, including Taiwan,” and called on Beijing to “stop its military, diplomatic and economic “on the island. .
Taiwan separated from China at the end of the civil war in 1949. Its population of 23 million people live under constant threat of invasion from China, whose rulers consider the island part of their country.
Despite its diplomatic ties to Beijing, Washington remains a source of military support for Taiwan. China, which opposes any formal ties with Taiwan, is trying to isolate the island diplomatically.
Former US President Donald Trump strengthened his contacts with Taipei during his diplomatic and trade showdown with China, which demanded a fresh start in bilateral relations under Biden. On Thursday, Washington called for “Taiwan-related problems to be handled cautiously and appropriately to avoid damaging China-US relations.”
However, the new US president is expected to take a hard-line stance because protecting Taiwan is a consensus issue in America.
Chinese aviation entered Taiwan’s air defense zone 380 times last year, a record number, and this trend appears to continue with Biden’s rise to power.
Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry said 13 Chinese aircraft, including eight bombers and five fighters, again breached the air defense zone on Saturday.
The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for its support “despite current pressure from Beijing.”
© 2021 AFP
