China activates maneuvers for possible meeting of Taiwanese leader in the US

Havana, April 3 (RHC) China is preparing stronger maneuvers on Monday than those carried out days ago, to respond if the leader of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, finally meets with the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.

Experts quoted by the local press assured that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is preparing an operation similar to the one carried out last August, when Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy's predecessor, was in Taipei.

China's naval and air commandos would carry out massive live-fire practices around the southern island, if the meeting finally takes place in Los Angeles, during the Taiwanese leader’s stopover there on her return trip from Belize and Guatemala.

The PLA even has contingency plans ready to react according to what the Taiwanese leader says and does at her US stop.

After learning about the possible meeting between Tsai Ing-wen and Kevin McCarthy, the Chinese military has spent days with state-of-the-art aircraft, warships, equipment and weapons deployed near Taiwan and engaged in high-intensity exercises.

China last week protested, warning that it would proceed with "strong countermeasures" if Tsai Ing-wen meets US politicians when she travels to Central America. The government demanded that Washington demonstrate with concrete actions the fulfillment of its commitment not to support Taiwan's independence aspirations. Beijing also warned that it will closely monitor how the situation evolves and will defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Taiwanese leader plans to make two stops on US soil, one on March 30 and another on April 5, as she goes and returns from her tour of Belize and Guatemala. That trip comes after Honduras broke more than 80 years of ties with Taipei on March 26 and established them with China.

Since 2017, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and five other nations in the world have taken that step, leaving Taiwan with only 11 territories that recognize it. (Source: Prensa Latina)