China wants to integrate Taiwan into the People's Republic by all means. With another official visit by a US diplomat to Taiwan, the US is underlining its "strong ties" to the island nation – and causing massive resentment in Beijing.
With the trip of another high-ranking US diplomat on an official visit to Taiwan, the US has again drawn the Chinese government's displeasure. Secretary of State Keith Krach's trip to Taipei is the highest-ranking visit by a US State Department representative in more than 40 years. The Chinese government reacted angrily, saying the visit encouraged "the arrogant stance of the separatist forces in Taiwan".
The official occasion for the visit of the US diplomat responsible for economic growth, energy and the environment is a memorial service planned for Saturday for President Lee Teng-hui, who died in July. The visit is tricky because China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that is to be reunited with the People's Republic – if necessary by force.
Beijing increases pressure on Taiwan – also militarily
In August, US Health Minister Alex Azar visited the island to Beijing's great annoyance. Back then, China warned the US against "playing with fire". Beijing is against any official exchange between the US and Taiwan, "regardless of the pretext," said the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China has been putting pressure on Taiwan for decades and is trying to prevent the island from being recognized internationally. As a result, the island nation has few international allies and is excluded from many international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
When announcing Krachs trip, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus emphasized the "strong ties" between the US and Taiwan with its "living democracy". Both shared the same political and economic values. Beijing has increased diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. In the past few weeks, Taipei has reported a sharp increase in Chinese military jets violating its airspace.
Biggest threat to the US
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper presented a concept for modernizing and strengthening the US naval forces. Accordingly, the naval fleet is to be expanded from the current 293 to 355 ships in the coming decades. The plan aims to ensure the superiority of the US fleet over the Chinese naval forces – currently the greatest security threat to the US. According to a recently published Pentagon report, the People's Republic has the world's largest naval fleet with 350 ships and submarines.
In particular, the Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea are causing great tensions. China claims practically the entire South China Sea, which is rich in raw materials. Washington regards Beijing's territorial claims as illegal and has repeatedly dispatched warships to the region.
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