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Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn confounded China by refuting decades of sensitive political language when she met with Taiwanese officials on Friday and called the island an “independent nation.” showed movement.
Blackburn called Taiwan an independent entity in a meeting with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and in a series of speeches online and in person. Official U.S. government policy treats Taiwan as part of China’s territory.
“I look forward to helping and continuing to help Taiwan move forward as an independent nation,” Blackburn said in a televised briefing.
Blackburn said, “I look forward to a wonderful visit. Certainly I will fondly remember my visit in 2008 and the opportunity to see your country firsthand.”
Sen.Taiwan’s Blackburn: China’s ‘bullying’ tactics must stop, US must curb CCP’s ‘aggression’
People’s Republic of China has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, a relatively narrow stretch of water between the island of Taiwan and mainland China. The Chinese military frequently sends planes into the region to test Taiwan’s air defenses. China considers Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory, but the Taiwanese government has rejected the claim and has operated as an autonomous democracy (formally known as the Republic of China) since 1949.
Sen.Marsha Blackburn lands in Taiwan for surprise visit after calling China ‘new axis of evil’
The United States has no official relationship with Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, and maintains a “One China” policy that recognizes the People’s Republic of China as its legitimate successor state.
Beijing has called on countries seeking ties with China to sever all formal ties with Taiwan, while the United States continues unofficial ties with the Taiwanese government.
“I have just landed in Taiwan to send a message to Beijing. We will not be bullied,” the senator wrote online. We will not tolerate efforts to undermine our country and our allies.”
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“One of the reasons I came to Taipei to meet with Taiwan’s leaders is because we can’t afford to let the Chinese Communist Party control global foreign policy,” Blackburn told the audience.