The head of security Taiwan announced this Saturday that China has deployed more than 100 warships and coast guard ships in the waters of the area, from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea and the western Pacific.
The deployment took place “throughout the last few days”, after the visit to Beijing of the American president, donald trumpindicated the head of the National Security Council, Joseph Wuin network X.
The Taiwanese official accused China of “threaten”peace and stability in the region.
China considers this island with its own democratic government and army as part of its territory, and has threatened to take it by force.
Although the United States changed its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, it remains Taiwan’s main supporter and arms supplier.
During the bilateral summit held last week in Beijing, the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingwarned his American counterpart that this issue could lead to a “conflict”.
After concluding his visit, Trump suggested that arms sales to this island could be used as a bargaining chip with Beijing and warned the island’s authorities against declaring independence.
A senior Taiwanese security official told the news agency AFP on condition of anonymity that his forces detected Chinese ships before the summit in Beijingbut what the number exceeded one hundred in recent days.
The president of the United States, donald trumpstated last Wednesday that he will work to address “the Taiwan problem“, a week after meeting in Beijing with the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingwho does not rule out militarily invading the island.
When asked by the press if he will call the Taiwanese president, William LaiBefore making a decision on arms sales to Taiwan, Trump responded: “I’ll talk to him. I talk to everyone”.
“We have that situation well under control. We had a great meeting with President Xi. It was fantastic and we are going to work on the Taiwan problem,” he added.
After meeting with Xi in Beijing, the US president declined to confirm whether he will authorize the approval of a weapons pack to Taiwan valued at about 14 billion dollarswhich would be the largest in history.
The Taiwanese president insisted Wednesday that the US arms sale to the island is “necessary” to maintain peace and stability in the Strait.
For his part, the acting secretary of the United States Navy announced that Arms sales to Taiwan are on “pause”with the aim of guaranteeing sufficient ammunition for the US military in the context of the war in Iran.
Although Washington only recognizes Beijing, its legislation obliges it to supply weapons to the self-governing island. China maintains the position that it could use force to take control of Taiwan.
“Right now we are pausing to make sure we have the ammunition we need for (Operation) Epic Fury“said the acting secretary of the Navy, Hung Caobefore Congress.
Cao added: “We are making sure we have everything; later on, foreign military sales will continue as the administration deems necessary.”
