The US Vice President, Kamala Haris has pledged to support Taiwan against the growing tension in China. She also condemned Chinese activities in the Pacific.
Harris made her pledge the deck of the USS Howard destroyer during a visit to the largest overseas U.S. Navy installation in the world at Yokosuka, near the Japanese capital.
While giving her speech in Japan, she said:
“China is undermining key elements of the international rules-based order, China has flexed its military and economic might to coerce and intimidate its neighbors. And we have witnessed disturbing behavior in the East China Sea and in the South China Sea, and most recently, provocations across the Taiwan Strait.”
China says Taiwan is one of its provinces and is therefore not allowed to stay as a country. It has long vowed to bring Taiwan under its control and has not ruled out the use of force to do so.
Taiwan’s government strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s 23 million people can decide its future, and 23 million people are more than enough to make a thriving country.
Kamala Haris condemned China’s violent attacks on the island, saying:
“We will continue to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo,” she said. “And we will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defense, consistent with our long-standing policy. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy that contributes to the global good — from technology to health, and beyond, and the United States will continue to deepen our unofficial ties.”
The base where Kamala Harris spoke is home to 24,000 military and civilian workers who could be called on in a regional conflict.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry has responded and asked the US to stay away from their one-china policy, and that they would do everything they can to stop Kamala Haris and the US from interfering.
