Visit to Taiwan

US politicians warn Xi against “stupid decision”

President Xi Jinping sees it as his task to "unite" China and Taiwan.(Bild: AP)

Their visit to Taiwan has already angered the Chinese leadership. However, the warning from the head of a delegation of US MPs to President Xi Jinping not to make a "stupid decision" could further harden the fronts.

They wanted to send the message that "if Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party ever make the incredibly stupid decision to invade Taiwan, that effort would fail," said delegation leader Mike Gallagher at a meeting with Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te.

US delegation: "Attacks by authoritarian aggression"
Freedom in the world is being attacked by "authoritarian aggression", Gallagher had said shortly beforehand in a conversation with Taiwan's outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen at the start of the trip. He praised Tsai for her leadership, thanks to which mutual relations are stronger than ever before.

Head of delegation Mike Gallagher (left) at the meeting with Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te(Bild: APA/AFP/TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE/Handout)

The Chinese Foreign Ministry made it clear that no "interference in internal affairs" would be tolerated. "We appeal to the United States to respect the particularly complex and sensitive Taiwan issue. "The US must stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces," a ministry spokeswoman said at a press conference on Thursday. 

President Xi Jinping sees it as his task to "unite" China and Taiwan.(Bild: AP)

Xi Jinping strives for "unification"
According to the Chinese one-China doctrine, states that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing are not actually allowed to maintain official contacts with Taiwan. Beijing has rejected visits by foreign politicians to Taiwan for decades. China's head of state and party leader Xi sees it as his mission to implement "unification" and is threatening military conquest.

The USA, on the other hand, is committed to Taiwan's defense capability - which so far has mainly meant arms deliveries. However, President Joe Biden has gone further than his predecessors and has repeatedly described it as an "obligation" of the USA to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China.