U.S. VP Harris condemns ‘disturbing’ Chinese actions

YOKOSUKA, Japan, Sept 28 (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned on Wednesday “disturbing” actions by China within the Pacific whereas pledging to deepen “unofficial ties” with Taiwan, days after the U.S. administration pledged its forces would defend the island.

Harris made her remarks on the deck on the USS Howard destroyer throughout a go to to the biggest abroad U.S. Navy set up on the earth at Yokosuka, close to the Japanese capital.

“China is undermining key elements of the international rules-based order,” mentioned Harris, who’s on a four-day journey to Asia.

“China has flexed its military and economic might to coerce and intimidate its neighbours. And we have witnessed disturbing behaviour in the East China Sea and in the South China Sea, and most recently, provocations across the Taiwan Strait.”

The remarks to American sailors carrying gown whites come after U.S. President Joe Biden pledged in an interview aired on Sept. 18 to defend the Chinese-claimed island of Taiwan in opposition to an “unprecedented attack”. learn extra

The U.S. subscribes to a “one China” coverage that formally recognises solely Beijing however binds the U.S. authorities to offer democratically dominated Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

China says Taiwan is one among its provinces. It has lengthy vowed to carry Taiwan underneath its management and has not dominated out the usage of power to take action.

Taiwan’s authorities strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says solely the island’s 23 million individuals can resolve its future.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited to Taiwan in August, infuriating China, which then carried out its largest-ever navy workout routines across the island.

Harris mentioned U.S. forces would function within the area “undaunted and unafraid” even because the United States expects “continued aggressive” actions by China.

“We will continue to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo,” she mentioned. “And we will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defence, 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.”

Wang Wenbin, spokesman on the Chinese international ministry, advised a daily media briefing that the United States wanted to return to the one China coverage and “unequivocally make clear that it opposes all Taiwan separatist activities”.

RISING TENSION

Harris’ journey to Japan, Washington’s closest regional ally, was meant to reassure allies and deter any escalation.

Aides mentioned Harris would work on a unified method in a area the place leaders have warily watched rising stress between the United States and China.

The base the place Harris spoke is house to 24,000 navy and civilian employees who may very well be known as on in a regional battle. It’s additionally the house of the USS Ronald Reagan, an plane provider now in South Korea to take part in joint drills meant to discourage North Korea. Harris will go to the demilitarized zone separating the Koreas on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Harris led Biden’s bipartisan U.S. delegation to the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who nudged the nation away from the pacifist doctrine it adopted after being defeated in World War Two.

Biden is anticipated to carry his first face-to-face assembly as president with China’s Xi Jinping throughout November’s Group of 20 assembly in Indonesia.

Before Harris spoke to the U.S. service members, she stepped under deck and was given an indication of the warship’s missile and anti-submarine capabilities.

A commander pointed at a digital map displaying a hypothetical enemy, a “hostile country” he declined to establish.

“It’s not Guam,” he defined, referring to the Pacific territory.

Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Yokosuka, Japan; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Mary Milliken, Josie Kao and Gerry Doyle

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