Taiwan wants to “
prevent Chinese interference
” in its territorial waters, its president Tsai Ing-wen said on Thursday, after the threat of Chinese maritime authorities to carry out inspections of cargo and passenger ships there.
“
While I am out of the country, our national security team is closely monitoring the situation.
What we have done is to ensure that our ships can navigate safely at sea and to prevent interference from China in our territorial waters
,” said Tsai Ing-wen, before leaving the United States. United, where she met the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy.
Read alsoThe risky scenarios of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Warships deployed
China sent warships to the waters around Taiwan on Thursday, after deploying an aircraft carrier and promising a "
determined
" response after the two lawmakers met.
Three additional warships were detected at 6 a.m. (12 a.m. in France) in the waters separating mainland China from the Democratic Autonomous Island, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense announced.
An anti-submarine helicopter also passed through Taiwan's air defense zone, according to the ministry.
And China has deployed coast guard vessels for exceptional patrols which Taipei has protested against.
Read also"Taiwan innovates in unofficial diplomacy"
The communist regime considers the island self-managed for more than 70 years as one of its provinces to take back, favoring "
peaceful reunification
", but without excluding the use of force.
In the name of its “
one China
” principle, no country is supposed to maintain official ties with Beijing and Taipei at the same time.
In August, Beijing launched unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan when Democrat Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy's roost predecessor, visited the island.