15th August 2022 – (Taipei) Less than two weeks after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) confirmed that U.S. Senator Ed Markey led congressional delegation including Representative John Garamendi (D-CA), Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), and Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS) to Taiwan and arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport by special plane on Sunday (14th) evening. The delegation is in Taiwan to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other significant issues of mutual interest. They also met up with Taiwan President Tsai In-Wen.
The spokesman for the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the People’s Republic of China, announced on Monday that the Eastern Theatre Command organised a multi-army joint combat readiness patrol and an actual combat drill in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan on the same day. The PLA forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian criticised U.S. Senator Markey and others for their visit to Taiwan, which blatantly violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, violated China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sent a wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. It fully exposes the true face of the United States as a disruptor and destroyer of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Eastern Theatre’s organisation of multi-service and arms joint combat readiness patrols and actual combat drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan Island is a resolute response and a solemn deterrent to the US-Taiwan collusion and provocation. Wu Qian reiterated that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. Beijing warns U.S. and the DPP authorities that “using Taiwan to control China” is doomed to fail and “relying on the United States to seek independence” will bring about its own demise. Any attempt or act that goes against the trend of history, goes against the will of the entire Chinese people, and obstructs the process of China’s reunification will inevitably end in failure. The PLA has continued to train and prepare for war, resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan reported that 22 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels infringed on Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday, with 10 warplanes crossing the median line.