Despite Chinese warnings against interference, France returns to Taiwan
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French MPs have arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, despite China's warnings to the West not to interfere in the region.
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Francois de Rugy speaking to press after arriving in Taiwan (AFP)
A group of French parliamentarians came to Taiwan on Wednesday, the latest show of growing Western interference in the Taipei-Beijing issue.
This is the second trip of its kind from France, as similar European and American visits have defied Chinese warnings of non-interference.
The French delegation of 6 is led by Francois de Rugy. According to the Foreign Ministry of Taipei, he will be meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen along with other officials.
In November, despite Chinese warnings, a 7-member European parliamentary delegation led by Raphaël Glucksmann, a French MP on the Chinese sanctions list, visited Taiwan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry slammed the latest visit on Wednesday, stressing that "relevant parties should... stop sending false signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces".
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated that China "firmly opposes any official and political exchanges between Taiwan and other countries."
The interference is not new, as recently, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner said on Wednesday that bolstering Taiwan's "self-defense" is an "urgent task" to deter China.
On his part, China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, had told the US Secretary of State in a phone conversation that support for Taiwan's independence will disrupt regional peace and stability and will eventually cause substantial damage, as per history and reality. He warned the US not to "send wrong signals" in order not to cause disruption.
Ongoing violations
Last month, a US warship sailed through the strait separating Taiwan and China despite numerous cautionary responses from Beijing.
US and other warships periodically violate the strait under the pretext of conducting military exercises in an attempt to provoke Beijing, often triggering cautionary responses from Beijing, as China views Taiwan and the surrounding waters as its territory.
