China renews warnings as Taiwan’s Tsai stops over in US
Associated PressBEIJING — As Taiwan’s president began a stopover in the United States on her way to Central America, China said it was closely watching and would “resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, and portrays the self-governing island democracy of 23 million people as the most sensitive issue in its increasingly fraught relationship with the U.S. On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China’s furious objections to any meetings between Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. officials. Along with Taiwan and friction over trade, technology and human rights, China’s close ties with Russia and its refusal to criticize Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine have also increased tensions between Washington and Beijing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, underscoring the warmth of the “no-limits” relationship between the two authoritarian states announced just weeks before Russia’s year-old invasion. He also pledged regular joint air and sea patrols, exercises and training as the two countries work together to implement “global security initiatives jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.” China has been steadily building up its 2 million-member armed forces — already the world’s largest standing military — as well as latest-generation fighter jets, aircraft carriers and highly capable warships.