China announced new military manoeuvres surrounding Taiwan on Monday, as a team of visiting US politicians met with the island’s leader following a previous trip by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi heightened fears of violence.
The secret two-day trip came as Beijing launched warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies surrounding Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that China’s leaders claim and have sworn to capture one day.
According to Washington’s de facto embassy, a five-member congressional delegation led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey met with President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday.”The group had the chance to discuss views with Taiwan counterparts on a wide range of subjects important to both the US and Taiwan,” the statement stated.
Beijing reacted angrily to the bipartisan trip, saying it had conducted “combat preparedness patrol and battle drills in the sea and airspace near Taiwan island” on Monday.
