Four U.S. warships, including an aircraft carrier, were positioned in waters east of Taiwan on what the U.S. Navy called routine deployments on Tuesday amid Chinese anger over U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit the island.
The carrier USS Ronald Reagan had transited the South China Sea and was currently in the Philippines Sea, east of Taiwan and the Philippines and south of Japan, a U.S. Navy official told o Reuters.
The Japan-based Reagan is operating with a guided missile cruiser, USS Antietam, and a destroyer, USS Higgins.
Taiwanese media has reported that a Chinese missile destroyer has appeared off the coast of the self-governing island.
The Chinese and Taiwanese militaries dispatched fighter jets, ordered military exercises, and bolstered combat readiness as Taiwan prepared to host House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a visit that has triggered dire warnings from China’s leadership and sharply escalated tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday night, local time, according to a person familiar with arrangements for the visit.
The impending visit has drawn outrage from China, which for years has sought to diplomatically isolate Taiwan.
“No matter for what reason Pelosi goes to Taiwan, it will be a stupid, dangerous and unnecessary gamble,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing Tuesday. “It is difficult to imagine a more reckless and provocative action.”
Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, blamed the United States on Tuesday for escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait and warned of “disastrous consequences” if the United States mishandles the situation.
Earlier, the White House, without confirming Pelosi’s trip, warned Beijing not to use it as a pretext for escalation and criticized China for overreacting to a visit that has precedent. Pelosi would be the first House speaker to travel to Taiwan since Rep. Newt Gingrich in 1997.
White House spokesman John Kirby warned that China may fire missiles into the Taiwan Strait or near Taiwan or send military jets across the median line.
In the last Taiwan Strait crisis in 1995-1996, China sent missiles that landed near Taiwan.
Pelosi has been a longtime critic of China’s human rights record and has spoken out in support of demonstrators in Hong Kong protesting against Beijing’s crackdown on the city. Reuters reported that Pelosi would meet with a group of human rights activists in Taiwan.
Pelosi’s travels coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.
According to a statement from Beijing, in reference to Taiwan, President Xi warned Biden that those who play with fire will perish by it. While he didn’t provide specifics as to any consequences, he added, “the People’s Liberation Army will not sit by idly.”
U.S. officials have said that Beijing appeared to be positioning itself to make responses to the visit, including staging military drills, firing missiles into the Taiwan Strait or near the island, or sending more aircraft and naval vessels into areas closer to Taiwan where they haven’t previously operated.
James 1:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James1:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and diseases; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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