March 27th, 2018, is a meeting of Taiwan and the U.S. Flags are placed in Taipei, Taiwan. REUTERS Tyrone Siu File Photo
TAIPEI, November 26, Reuters -- China's military carried out combat readiness patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait on Friday as a U.S. congressional delegation visited Taipei, offering strong support to the Chinese-claimed, democratically governed island.
The five members of the U.S. House of Representatives arrived in Taiwan on Thursday night for a two-day trip, the second time in a month that U.S. lawmakers have visited.
As with the last visit, China's military announced the patrols in the vicinity of the narrow and sensitive Taiwan Strait that separates the island from its giant neighbour.
The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said on Friday it had organised naval and air forces to continue combat readiness police patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait. The relevant actions are necessary to deal with the current situation in the Taiwan Strait. The military's mission is to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, because Taiwan is part of China's territory. Taiwan's Defence Ministry, as part of its daily update of Chinese air operations near the island, said on Friday eight Chinese air force aircraft, including two nuclear-capable H- 6 bombers, flew into Taiwan's air defence zone, though well away from mainland Taiwan and close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top of the South China SeaChina Sea.
China denounces visits by U.S. politicians to Taiwan, and the foreign ministry said that it had made a formal complaint to Washington about the latest trip by the bipartisan congressional group, saying that playing the Taiwan card was a losing hand. The leader of the U.S. delegation praised the island as a force for good in the world.
Madame President, I want to commend and praise your leadership. Mark Takano, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said the bonds between us are more positive and productive than they have been for decades, whose group was previously in Japan and South Korea.
Our commitment to Taiwan has been strong and has remained steadfast as the ties between us have deepened. Taiwan is a democratic success story, a reliable partner and a force for good in the world, he added.
The United States, like most countries, has no official relationship with Taiwan, but is the most important international backer and arms supplier.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who is part of the delegation, tweeted that China's Washington embassy demanded we cancel the trip when news of it broke.
She added that we didn't, and she posted a picture of herself outside the U.S. Air Force jet that carried her to Taipei under the caption Just touched down in the Republic of Taiwan, a term used by supporters of the island's formal independence.
China has stepped up military and political pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. Tsai has vowed to maintain peace with China, but she will defend Taiwan if attacked.