Tsai-McCarthy meeting places in US sanctioned by China
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China sanctions entities it says are promoting "the independence of Taiwan" and "at the behest of the Democratic Progressive Party" under the excuse of freedom and democracy and by acting against the one-China principle.
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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and the US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy after meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on April 5, 2023. (Reuters)
The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement confirming that the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library have been sanctioned for providing Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen "a platform and convenience to engage in separatist activities" and thus "seriously violating the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques."
This comes after US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Tsai during her stop in the US en route to Latin America.
Chinese universities, institutions, and individuals are forbidden from entering into agreements and exchanges with these entities alongside cooperating in activities with them. The ministry also decided that the four heads of the entities are banned from both entering China and obtaining Chinese visas. Entering China's special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao are also off-limits for the heads of the entities.
Taiwanese entities were not exempt, as the Prospect Foundation think tank and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, which is a Taiwanese regional organization of liberal democratic political parties in Asia, were also sanctioned by the US.
Read more: China sees Tsai's US stop 'provocation', US urges no 'overreaction'
China views these entities as promoting "the independence of Taiwan" and "at the behest of the Democratic Progressive Party" under the excuse of freedom and democracy and by acting against the one-China principle.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning relayed Beijing's opposition on Thursday to the official contacts between the US and Taiwan as she called on the US to halt developments with Taiwan and reiterated China's willingness to take "strong and resolute measures" to defend the country's sovereignty.
Mao said in a statement that "It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,"
McCarthy and Tsai: 'We’re stronger when we are together'
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen convened at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and at a follow-up press conference, McCarthy said, "I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime."
"America’s support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan," he added.
Tsai replied by saying, “We’re stronger when we are together" and added that her country is 'grateful' to have US support.
The friendship between America and the people of Taiwan has never been stronger. It is my honor to welcome President @iingwen to the @Reagan_Library. pic.twitter.com/2XSIJRv7Vp
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 5, 2023
