China reasserts it 'firmly opposes' US military presence in Taiwan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Sputnik
15 Mar 2024 09:29
2 Shares

Following reports that US Army Special Forces were in Taiwan training Taiwanese military troops, China reiterated Beijing's opposition to US efforts to militarize Taiwan.

Taiwanese soldiers take part in drills at the Army defense command base in Taitung in southern Taiwan on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. (AP)

Beijing reaffirmed that it firmly opposes the presence of US military contact with Taiwan according to Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US who spoke to Sputnik.

This comes after Taiwanese Defense Chief Qiu Guozheng confirmed earlier on Thursday that US Army special forces have already been deployed to the island and have been engaged in training the Taiwanese military.

"China firmly opposes US’ military contact with Taiwan and its attempts to arm the island," Pengyu said, adding, "We urge the US to...stop enhancing military contact with the Taiwan region or arming it by any means or under whatever pretext, stop creating factors that could heighten tensions in the Taiwan Strait."

US Republican lawmaker to attend Taiwan presidential inauguration

Earlier, on March 7, a top US lawmaker said he would visit Taiwan for the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te on May 20, a year after his last trip to the island provoked anger from China.

Representative Mike McCaul, who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke alongside Taiwan's representative in Washington and lawmakers from both parties at an event in the US Capitol marking 45 years since a landmark law to support Taiwan.

"I'll be leading a delegation to Taiwan to celebrate the president's inauguration," McCaul announced.

McCaul last visited Taiwan in April 2023 to meet President Tsai Ing-wen. Back then, China responded with a show of military force and later imposed sanctions on McCaul, a Republican from Texas.

"The last time I visited Taiwan, I was greeted very warmly by President Tsai but not so warmly by the CCP," McCaul said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.