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Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy
PHOTO: LEAH MILLIS / REUTERS
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has apparently convinced the speaker of the US House of Representatives to meet in California instead of Taipei.
The reason: this is to avoid an aggressive Chinese military reaction.
This is reported by the »Financial Times«.
According to several people familiar with the process, Tsai and Kevin McCarthy agreed to meet in the United States because of Taiwanese security concerns.
The California Republican announced last summer that he would visit the country if he were elected to the top leadership post in the House of Representatives.
The change in venue also comes as the US has tightened contingency planning for the region - one of the world's most dangerous trouble spots.
There was much speculation in Washington as to whether McCarthy would visit Taipei.
Proponents of a trip say senior US officials should show support for the country amid rising Chinese aggression, while critics argue high-profile visits provoke China without helping Taiwan.
China has warned the United States of the danger of a confrontational course amid rising tensions in relations.
The US government is more focused on suppressing and containing China than on fair or rule-based competition, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said at the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing.
If she does not change this wrong course towards China, there will be "conflicts and confrontations".
Relations between the two superpowers have been strained for years over a number of issues including the Taiwan conflict, trade disputes and the Russian war in Ukraine.
Most recently, they had deteriorated further because of the dispute over the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon.
China as the main rival
"The United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted," Qin said.
"They see China as their main rival and as the greatest geopolitical challenge." The US government claims that it is setting up guidelines for relations with China and is not looking for conflict.
But in practice, this means that China should not respond with words or actions when slandered or attacked.
"It's just impossible," he said.
"Unless the United States hits the brakes and continues down the wrong path, no amount of guard rails can prevent a derailment that will lead to conflict and confrontation, and who will suffer the catastrophic consequences?"
til/Reuters