{"id":25189,"date":"2022-05-31T18:11:48","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T18:11:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/31\/us-senator-visits-taiwan-as-china-ups-military-threat\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:24:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:24:53","slug":"us-senator-visits-taiwan-as-china-ups-military-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2022\/05\/31\/us-senator-visits-taiwan-as-china-ups-military-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"US senator visits Taiwan as China ups military threat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TAIPEI, Taiwan \u2014 U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth<\/a> on Tuesday reiterated America\u2019s support for Taiwan on her second visit in a year<\/a> to the self-governing island claimed by China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duckworth, meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, emphasized the close economic, political and security relations between Taipei and Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China sent 30 military aircraft toward the island on Monday in an ongoing campaign of regular flights<\/a>. Taiwan\u2019s Defense Ministry said it responded by scrambling jets, putting air defense missile systems on alert and issuing radio warnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duckworth said she wanted to \u201cemphasize our support for Taiwan security.\u201d The former Army helicopter pilot and lieutenant colonel in the National Guard cited strong bipartisan backing for a bill she has put forward promoting cooperation between Taiwan\u2019s armed forces and the National Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do want to say that it is more than just about military. It\u2019s also about the economy,\u201d the Illinois Democrat told Tsai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tsai thanked the U.S. government and Congress \u201cfor the importance they place on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,\u201d as well as Duckworth herself for \u201ckeeping a close watch on Taiwan related security issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China said it strongly deplores Duckworth\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaiwan is a province of China, and there is no so-called president,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said. He urged the U.S. to end all official contacts with Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe U.S. government has recently sent a series of erroneous signals on the Taiwan issue,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat the U.S. government should do is to put into practice President Biden\u2019s remarks that the U.S. does not seek a new Cold War with China, does not aim to change China\u2019s system \u2026 and does not support Taiwan independence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t