China Announces New War Games As More U.S. Solons Visit Taiwan

China announced more military drills around Taiwan as the self-governing island’s president met with members of a new US congressional delegation on Monday, threatening to renew tensions between Beijing and Washington just days after a similar visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China, Johnson Lai reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: The US lawmakers, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and legislators, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de-facto embassy on the island.

The US lawmakers, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and legislators, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de-facto embassy on the island.

The delegation “had an opportunity to exchange views with Taiwan counterparts on a wide range of issues of importance to both the United States and Taiwan,” the institute said in a statement.

China says it wants to use peaceful means to bring Taiwan under its control, but its recent saber rattling has emphasized its threat to take the island by military force.

The earlier drills appeared to be a rehearsal of a blockade or attack on Taiwan that would force the cancellation of commercial flights and disrupt shipping to Taiwan’s main ports as well as cargo passing through the Taiwan Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The exercises prompted Taiwan to put its military on alert but were met largely with defiance or apathy among the public used to living in China’s shadow.

The American “visit at this time is of great significance because the Chinese military exercise is (intended) to deter US congressmen from visiting Taiwan,” Lo Chih-cheng, the chair of the Taiwan legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, said after meeting with the US lawmakers.

“Their visit this time proves that China cannot stop politicians from any country to visit Taiwan, and it also conveys an important message that the American people stand with the Taiwanese people,” Lo said.

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