[Epoch Times November 10, 2021](Epoch Times reporters Minzhou Wu and Yixin Li Yixin from Taipei, Taiwan) U.S. Republican Senator John Cornyn and a group of 13 people, at 6 o’clock in the evening on November 9th, boarded the U.S. Navy The C-40A administrative plane arrived in Taiwan in a low profile and landed at Taipei Songshan Air Force Base. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out yesterday (10) that the itinerary was coordinated by AIT; the US Department of Defense stated that it is not uncommon for congressional delegations to travel by military plane, and this is in line with the “Taiwan Relations Act.”
The members who visited Taiwan included Senator John Cornyn of Texas, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Congressman Jake Ellzey, etc. Members of the House of Representatives, among them, Republican Senator Koning once proposed the “Taiwan Deterrence Act” draft in Congress and is a friendly Taiwanese member.
Congressmen visit the US Department of Defense by military plane: it is not uncommon for congressional delegations
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 10th that the relevant itinerary was coordinated by the Taipei Office of the American Association in Taiwan (AIT/T), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided administrative assistance for the delegation. This case is the result of the coordination between Taiwan and the United States, and based on respecting the wishes of the visitors, relevant information will be explained to the public in a timely manner.
In addition, U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson John Kirby responded to the media at a press conference on the 9th that this is a Congressional delegation, not a Pentagon delegation. It is not uncommon for Congressional delegations to travel by military plane. The U.S. Department of Defense stated that “no Comment”. Rumor has it that the US congressman’s visit to Taiwan focused on the topic of “national defense”, in order to understand the current status of the Communist military’s deterrence against Taiwan in the near future.
It is reported that the delegation of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives entered the Presidential Palace on the 10th to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, and discussed with the National Security Council and the Ministry of National Defense on the current situation of the Communist deterrence against Taiwan, but the Ministry of National Defense has not confirmed. The US and Taiwan officials are quite low-key about the delegation’s intentions and itinerary.
The CCP attacked Taiwan’s southwest airspace at 5 degrees early on the 10th
However, after the news came out, the Chinese side jumped. On the evening of the 9th, the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense Tan Kefei criticized the US for “crude interference in China’s internal affairs” and demanded that “provocative actions” and “all destructive actions that lead to escalation of tension in the Taiwan Strait” be stopped immediately.
In addition, the Eastern Theater District of the Communist Army also announced on Weibo in a high-profile manner that on the 9th, the Eastern Theater District had organized a joint combat readiness police patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait, claiming that the move was to further enhance the joint combat capabilities of various arms, and said that “this military operation” It was taken in response to the serious wrong words and deeds of the relevant countries on the Taiwan issue and the activities of the Taiwan independence separatist forces. It is a necessary measure to safeguard national sovereignty.”
The Chinese military plane harassed Taiwan’s southwest airspace at 5 degrees early on the 10th. It is not ruled out that it was an expression of dissatisfaction over this matter. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China, shouted on the 10th to resolutely oppose any form of official exchanges and military contacts between the United States and the Taiwan region of China. In this regard, Kirby said that Congress’s visit to Taiwan is normal. It is the second time this year and is in line with the “Taiwan Relations Act.”
U.S. military plane landed at the airport legislator of the Republic of China
Regarding this, Kuomintang legislator Lai Shibao stated that the US Congress is very supportive of Taiwan and that “friends come from afar” are of course welcome. It will be helpful for enhancing Taiwan-US relations. Kuomintang legislator Chen Yuzhen said that military planes directly represent the country, and U.S. congressmen arrived in Taiwan on military planes. “The U.S. military plane landed at the airport of the Republic of China”, which also highlighted that “the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country.”
He Zhiwei, a legislator of the DPP, believes that there will be more and more frequent interactions between Taiwan and the United States between private, official and semi-official. DPP legislator Xu Zhijie said that it is not the first time that U.S. congressmen have visited Taiwan by military plane. The CCP has always been very opposed to U.S. military planes coming to Taiwan. The CCP has to get used to the situation that the U.S. sometimes has military planes coming to Taiwan. This is friendly. I also hope to deter the CCP from using force to disturb Taiwan.
The last time a US senator visited Taiwan was on June 6 this year, when Taiwan was fighting the local epidemic. A delegation of three senators from the U.S. Senate, including Ladda Tammy Duckworth, Daniel Scott Sullivan, and Christopher Andrew Coons, flew to Songshan Airport on a C-17 transport plane, announcing that the United States would donate Taiwan 750,000 doses of vaccine help fight the epidemic.
In addition to the U.S. Congressional delegation, a delegation led by U.S. President Biden’s close friend and former Senator Todd (Chris Dodd) visited Taiwan on April 14 this year. Mita Ji (Richard Armitage) and Steinberg (James Steinberg).
Editor in charge: Lumeiqi#
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