Taiwan says China’s threats will only increase support for island

China’s navy threats towards Taiwan will solely enhance help for the island from the US and different democracies, the international ministry mentioned after China carried out drills close by as U.S. lawmakers visited Taipei.

Beijing blamed the lawmakers, who included chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee Bob Menendez, for elevating tensions with their “provocative” journey. China claims democratically dominated Taiwan as its personal territory.

In an announcement late on Friday, Taiwan’s International Ministry condemned China’s “recalcitrant and ridiculous” response to the two-day go to, the primary by a gaggle of U.S. lawmakers this yr.

“The specter of pressure by the Chinese language Communist Get together’s totalitarian authorities towards Taiwan will solely strengthen the Taiwanese individuals’s will to defend freedom and democracy, and also will entice help for democratic Taiwan from the US and much more democratic companions,” it mentioned.

Taiwan will proceed to deepen cooperation with the US and different like-minded nations to defend the free and open Indo-Pacific area, and stop China’s “steady growth”, the ministry mentioned.

Senator Ben Sasse, one of many six bipartisan lawmakers who visited Taiwan and met President Tsai Ing-wen, mentioned in an announcement that China couldn’t bully the US or its elected representatives.

“The American individuals don’t have any love of tyrants and as a substitute instinctively help the freedom-loving individuals of Taiwan,” he mentioned.

Taiwan has been heartened by the U.S. help supplied by the Biden administration, which has repeatedly talked of its “rock-solid” dedication to the democratically ruled island.

Whereas the US has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it’s the island’s most necessary worldwide supporter and arms provider. That has added to strains in Sino-U.S. relations.

Taiwan’s authorities says solely the island’s 23 million individuals can determine their future.

In a pre-recorded video message to a discussion board organized by Taiwan independence teams on Saturday, Tsai mentioned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine confirmed the risk democracies face from authoritarianism.

“Taiwan’s place is to uphold sovereignty, uphold democracy, stand with like-minded nations, help one another, and contribute our power,” she mentioned.