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| Bellicose U.S.-China rhetoric looms over inauguration of Taiwan’s president | Bellicose U.S.-China rhetoric looms over inauguration of Taiwan’s president |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| SEOUL — The inauguration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's second term was overshadowed Wednesday by a war of words between Beijing and Washington, underscoring how the U.S.-aligned island has become a growing focus of the rivalry between the world powers. | SEOUL — The inauguration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's second term was overshadowed Wednesday by a war of words between Beijing and Washington, underscoring how the U.S.-aligned island has become a growing focus of the rivalry between the world powers. |
| China issued angry warnings after senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, sent rare, high-level messages to congratulate Tsai on the day of her swearing-in ceremony, at which the Democratic Progressive Party leader reiterated her rejection of a “one China” principle that Beijing considers a cornerstone of relations. | China issued angry warnings after senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, sent rare, high-level messages to congratulate Tsai on the day of her swearing-in ceremony, at which the Democratic Progressive Party leader reiterated her rejection of a “one China” principle that Beijing considers a cornerstone of relations. |
| China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to absorb the island by force, if necessary. With nationalist sentiment running hot in China, military officials and well-known foreign affairs commentators have openly pondered whether to invade the island while the United States, its main backer, is distracted by the coronavirus pandemic. | China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to absorb the island by force, if necessary. With nationalist sentiment running hot in China, military officials and well-known foreign affairs commentators have openly pondered whether to invade the island while the United States, its main backer, is distracted by the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Taiwan’s president wins second term with landslide victory over pro-Beijing rival | Taiwan’s president wins second term with landslide victory over pro-Beijing rival |
| The U.S.-China bitterness also surfaced in another forum Wednesday as President Trump tweeted that “some wacko in China just released a statement blaming everybody other than China” for the covid-19 pandemic. | |
| “Please explain to this dope that it was the ‘incompetence of China’, and nothing else, that did this mass Worldwide killing!” Trump continued. | |
| It was unclear what Chinese remarks prompted Trump’s tweet. But it came after an animated video titled “Pompeo’s credibility test” appeared on the Twitter feed of Chinese state TV, challenging Pompeo’s views on China’s role in fighting the pandemic. | |
| Chinese officials and state media have taken a series of recent potshots at Pompeo over Trump administration’s asserations, including unsupported claims that the virus could have originated in a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan. | |
| China viewed the Trump administration’s messages as provocations. Its Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Pompeo’s message “seriously endangered relations between the two countries and two militaries and seriously damaged peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” | China viewed the Trump administration’s messages as provocations. Its Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Pompeo’s message “seriously endangered relations between the two countries and two militaries and seriously damaged peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” |
| The People’s Liberation Army, it added, has a “firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capacity to frustrate any form of external interference and Taiwan independence plots.” | The People’s Liberation Army, it added, has a “firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capacity to frustrate any form of external interference and Taiwan independence plots.” |
| In a similar statement, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that “reunification” — or the takeover of de facto independent Taiwan — “is a historical inevitability of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people.” The Foreign Ministry in Beijing vowed unspecified “countermeasures.” | In a similar statement, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that “reunification” — or the takeover of de facto independent Taiwan — “is a historical inevitability of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people.” The Foreign Ministry in Beijing vowed unspecified “countermeasures.” |
| The U.S.-China bitterness surfaced in another forum Wednesday as President Trump tweeted that “some wacko in China just released a statement blaming everybody other than China” for the covid-19 pandemic. | The U.S.-China bitterness surfaced in another forum Wednesday as President Trump tweeted that “some wacko in China just released a statement blaming everybody other than China” for the covid-19 pandemic. |
| It was unclear what Chinese remarks prompted Trump’s tweet. But it came after an animated video titled “Pompeo’s credibility test” appeared on the Twitter feed of Chinese state TV, challenging Pompeo’s views on China’s role in fighting the pandemic. | It was unclear what Chinese remarks prompted Trump’s tweet. But it came after an animated video titled “Pompeo’s credibility test” appeared on the Twitter feed of Chinese state TV, challenging Pompeo’s views on China’s role in fighting the pandemic. |
| Chinese officials and state media have taken a series of recent potshots at Pompeo over Trump administration’s asserations, including unsupported claims that the virus could have originated in a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan. | Chinese officials and state media have taken a series of recent potshots at Pompeo over Trump administration’s asserations, including unsupported claims that the virus could have originated in a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan. |
| In his statement on Taiwan, Pompeo called Taiwan’s democracy an “inspiration to the region and the world” and said the U.S. partnership with Taiwan “will continue to flourish.” Although the remarks were measured, and American presidents have customarily congratulated their Taiwanese counterparts, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry noted that it was the first time a U.S. secretary of state had sent such a note. | In his statement on Taiwan, Pompeo called Taiwan’s democracy an “inspiration to the region and the world” and said the U.S. partnership with Taiwan “will continue to flourish.” Although the remarks were measured, and American presidents have customarily congratulated their Taiwanese counterparts, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry noted that it was the first time a U.S. secretary of state had sent such a note. |
| In December 2016, then-President-elect Trump also broke diplomatic tradition by receiving a congratulatory call from Tsai. | In December 2016, then-President-elect Trump also broke diplomatic tradition by receiving a congratulatory call from Tsai. |
| China is highly sensitive to speeches by U.S. officials, including mid- and high-level State Department officials, in Taiwan and other activities that resemble formal diplomatic exchanges. | China is highly sensitive to speeches by U.S. officials, including mid- and high-level State Department officials, in Taiwan and other activities that resemble formal diplomatic exchanges. |
| It has sought to punish Taiwan by cutting off its diplomatic ties after Tsai, who does not acknowledge the concept that Taiwan and the mainland are part of an inalienable “one China,” assumed power in 2016. And China particularly reviles Pompeo, who has been the outward face of the Trump administration’s hawkish attitude toward China. | It has sought to punish Taiwan by cutting off its diplomatic ties after Tsai, who does not acknowledge the concept that Taiwan and the mainland are part of an inalienable “one China,” assumed power in 2016. And China particularly reviles Pompeo, who has been the outward face of the Trump administration’s hawkish attitude toward China. |
| In recent weeks, Taiwan has become a focal point of U.S.-China frictions that range from technology to trade to coronavirus geopolitics. Until the effort failed this week, Washington had pushed for Taiwan’s inclusion at the World Healthy Assembly, which China has blocked for years as part of its diplomatic isolation campaign. | In recent weeks, Taiwan has become a focal point of U.S.-China frictions that range from technology to trade to coronavirus geopolitics. Until the effort failed this week, Washington had pushed for Taiwan’s inclusion at the World Healthy Assembly, which China has blocked for years as part of its diplomatic isolation campaign. |
| The Trump administration this month also successfully persuaded the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a factory in Arizona in what was considered an attempt to bring a crucial chipmaker closer to the United States and farther from China’s orbit. | The Trump administration this month also successfully persuaded the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a factory in Arizona in what was considered an attempt to bring a crucial chipmaker closer to the United States and farther from China’s orbit. |
| “Pompeo is clearly doing it to challenge Beijing,” the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial Wednesday about the U.S. administration’s well wishes for Tsai. “It is intended to provoke the Chinese mainland, throwing out cards one by one as a game with Beijing.” | “Pompeo is clearly doing it to challenge Beijing,” the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial Wednesday about the U.S. administration’s well wishes for Tsai. “It is intended to provoke the Chinese mainland, throwing out cards one by one as a game with Beijing.” |
| Xi’s Taiwan problem isn’t going away | Xi’s Taiwan problem isn’t going away |
| Tensions have been rising in recent weeks, with the Chinese military sending warplanes and an aircraft carrier into the strait and U.S. forces conducting large-scale flight and surveillance operations off China’s southern coast. This month, commentators in China have also hotly debated the need to expand China’s nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal after the State Department published a paper arguing for fitting low-yield nuclear warheads onto submarine-launched missiles. | Tensions have been rising in recent weeks, with the Chinese military sending warplanes and an aircraft carrier into the strait and U.S. forces conducting large-scale flight and surveillance operations off China’s southern coast. This month, commentators in China have also hotly debated the need to expand China’s nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal after the State Department published a paper arguing for fitting low-yield nuclear warheads onto submarine-launched missiles. |
| In her inauguration speech, Tsai said that she wanted to coexist peacefully with China but that she would not accept Beijing’s offer of a political framework that would bring Taiwan into the fold on the condition of semiautonomy. | In her inauguration speech, Tsai said that she wanted to coexist peacefully with China but that she would not accept Beijing’s offer of a political framework that would bring Taiwan into the fold on the condition of semiautonomy. |
| “We will not accept the Beijing authorities’ use of ‘one country, two systems’ to downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-strait status quo,” said Tsai, who swept into another term with a 75 percent approval rating. | “We will not accept the Beijing authorities’ use of ‘one country, two systems’ to downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-strait status quo,” said Tsai, who swept into another term with a 75 percent approval rating. |
| The ceremony at a historic Japanese-built guesthouse to begin Tsai’s second four-year term followed a remarkable 18-month turnaround in her political fortunes. After losing badly in local elections in 2018, Tsai mounted a comeback helped by her efficient coronavirus response and large-scale protests in Hong Kong in 2019 that raised public skepticism in Taiwan about the Chinese idea of “one country, two systems.” | The ceremony at a historic Japanese-built guesthouse to begin Tsai’s second four-year term followed a remarkable 18-month turnaround in her political fortunes. After losing badly in local elections in 2018, Tsai mounted a comeback helped by her efficient coronavirus response and large-scale protests in Hong Kong in 2019 that raised public skepticism in Taiwan about the Chinese idea of “one country, two systems.” |
| Tsai rallied her citizens on Wednesday around the country’s pandemic response, which public health experts generally have hailed as a model. | Tsai rallied her citizens on Wednesday around the country’s pandemic response, which public health experts generally have hailed as a model. |
| “This sense of pride in our country, this community’s shared destiny, and the memories of these past months will live on in all of our hearts,” Tsai said. “This is what solidarity feels like.” | “This sense of pride in our country, this community’s shared destiny, and the memories of these past months will live on in all of our hearts,” Tsai said. “This is what solidarity feels like.” |
| In a largely moderate speech, Tsai said she supports dialogue with China and would work with “the leader on the other side” to promote stable cross-strait relations. | In a largely moderate speech, Tsai said she supports dialogue with China and would work with “the leader on the other side” to promote stable cross-strait relations. |
| Kwei-bo Huang, a professor at National Chengchi University and foreign policy adviser to the previous Kuomintang government, said there is no chance that Tsai would hold talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping under current political conditions. | Kwei-bo Huang, a professor at National Chengchi University and foreign policy adviser to the previous Kuomintang government, said there is no chance that Tsai would hold talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping under current political conditions. |
| “That’s just lip service,” he said. “Tsai’s speech was very passive in dealing with the mainland policy.” | “That’s just lip service,” he said. “Tsai’s speech was very passive in dealing with the mainland policy.” |
| From China’s perspective, perhaps a more provocative address came from Pottinger. He sent a video message that quoted dissident Chinese astrophysicist Fang Lizhi, who participated in a pro-democracy student movement that was forcefully put down in a bloody crackdown in June 1989. | From China’s perspective, perhaps a more provocative address came from Pottinger. He sent a video message that quoted dissident Chinese astrophysicist Fang Lizhi, who participated in a pro-democracy student movement that was forcefully put down in a bloody crackdown in June 1989. |
| Although the congratulatory video was ostensibly aimed at Taiwan, it was the second time in a month that Pottinger, an influential China hawk in the administration and a Mandarin speaker, appeared to indirectly address the mainland Chinese public to advocate liberal democracy as a universal, rather than Western, system. His previous speech on May 4 was censored in China and provoked a torrent of criticism from state media outlets that lasted more than a week. | Although the congratulatory video was ostensibly aimed at Taiwan, it was the second time in a month that Pottinger, an influential China hawk in the administration and a Mandarin speaker, appeared to indirectly address the mainland Chinese public to advocate liberal democracy as a universal, rather than Western, system. His previous speech on May 4 was censored in China and provoked a torrent of criticism from state media outlets that lasted more than a week. |
| “Taiwan learned critical lessons from the 2003 SARS epidemic, and applied them in advance of the outbreak of the mysterious disease that the Chinese state-controlled media called the ‘Wuhan virus,’ ” Pottinger said Wednesday in a swipe at Beijing. “We will continue to press other countries and organizations, like the World Health Organization, to put human lives above politics and choose freedom above repression.” | “Taiwan learned critical lessons from the 2003 SARS epidemic, and applied them in advance of the outbreak of the mysterious disease that the Chinese state-controlled media called the ‘Wuhan virus,’ ” Pottinger said Wednesday in a swipe at Beijing. “We will continue to press other countries and organizations, like the World Health Organization, to put human lives above politics and choose freedom above repression.” |
| Other U.S. officials and lawmakers, including Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), also sent congratulatory messages. So did former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who called Taiwan’s democracy and coronavirus response examples for the world. | Other U.S. officials and lawmakers, including Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), also sent congratulatory messages. So did former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who called Taiwan’s democracy and coronavirus response examples for the world. |
| “America’s support for Taiwan must remain strong, principled, and bipartisan,” Biden wrote on Twitter. | “America’s support for Taiwan must remain strong, principled, and bipartisan,” Biden wrote on Twitter. |
| ‘One China’ dispute means one big headache for Taiwan in coronavirus crisis | ‘One China’ dispute means one big headache for Taiwan in coronavirus crisis |
| Taiwan’s ‘born independent’ millennials are becoming Xi Jinping’s lost generation | Taiwan’s ‘born independent’ millennials are becoming Xi Jinping’s lost generation |
| Taiwan beat covid-19 and won friends. At the WHO, it’s still fighting for a seat at the table. | Taiwan beat covid-19 and won friends. At the WHO, it’s still fighting for a seat at the table. |
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