Xi, 'Taiwan is the hub of China's interests, excluding compromises'

   Taiwan is the "core of China's interests" and Beijing will not compromise.

This is the warning of President Xi Jinping, matured a few hours after the meeting in Los Angeles between the president of the island Tsai Ing-wen and the speaker of the US House Kevin McCarthy, pronounced in the bilateral meeting held yesterday with the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

"Anyone who makes a fuss about a Chinese issue will never agree with the Chinese government and people," Xi said, according to a statement released in recent hours by Beijing diplomacy. "It is wishful thinking to expect China to go down to compromise on Taiwan". 

    For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Guangzhou (Canton), the capital of wealthy Guangdong, the last stop on his three-day state visit to China.

On the agenda is a meeting with students at Sun Yat-sen University, one of the main

Mandarin academic centers that manages a series of collaborative projects with educational and research institutions in France, state media recalled.

In the evening, Macron will meet again with President Xi Jinping with whom he will have a private dinner.

   China's Foreign Ministry today announced a series of sanctions against the Reagan Library, the Hudson Institute and their directors, in retaliation for Wednesday's meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"Despite repeated representations and staunch opposition from China, the US insisted on allowing Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen to 'transit' to the US to engage in political activities from March 29-31 and April 4-6, 2023" , the department reported.

Further sanctions have also been announced on other Taiwanese associations and citizens. 

   The Hudson Institute and the Reagan Library are accused of providing Tsai with "a platform and convenience to engage in Taiwan independence separatist activities in the United States", in gross violation of the 'One China' principle, the provisions of the three communiqués Sino-US ties and harming China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Consequently, the two institutions are recipients of

"strict restrictions" on trade and dealings with Chinese counterparts, while their managers (Sarah May Stern and John P. Walters, president of the board and director of the Hudson Institute; John Heubusch and Joanne M. Drake, former executive director and director administration of the Reagan Foundation) the "freeze of movable, immovable and other types of assets inside" China was ordered, as well as the blocking of visa issuance and exchange with Chinese entities.

   But in the meantime, another bipartisan delegation from the US Congress has been in Taiwan since yesterday, and should meet Tsai - whose return to Taipei is scheduled for today - tomorrow itself.

"Being here sends a signal to the Communist Party of China that the US supports Taiwan and that we will strengthen Taiwan, and we want them to think twice before invading Taiwan," said Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who heads the group. eight MPs who also visited Japan and South Korea on this mission to the Far East.

The American delegation began its visit by meeting with Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, who is likely to be the candidate of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party in the 2024 presidential elections.

   "I want to clarify that the United States is beside you and will protect you", McCaul said, according to local media, specifying that "we protect Taiwan by arming you, training you and being ready to defend you if necessary".

It is true that we must prepare for a war to avoid one

- Lai replied - and we must be ready to fight to stop a war". 

   And China has sent more warships and planes near Taiwan, in a move seen as a countermeasure to a meeting held in Los Angeles between President Tsai and House Speaker McCarthy.

Three units navigated the waters surrounding the island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter passed through the air defense identification zone, Taipei's defense

ministry said.

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, the first all-made in China, has been in southeastern waters since Wednesday, in its first training activity towards the western Pacific since its launch in 2019.

   "China will take firm and energetic measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated.

Last August, Beijing decided to mobilize warships, missiles and fighter jets in the waters and skies around Taiwan in its largest show of force in response to a visit to Taipei by then House speaker Nancy Pelosi.