Monday, the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, conveyed to the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, that she was moved by his determination to visit Taiwan, despite China’s recent military exercises around the self-ruled island. Gonsalves was in Taiwan as part of a state visit. “In recent days, Prime Minister Gonsalves has said that he does not anticipate that the Chinese military exercises would prevent him from travelling to Taiwan to meet friends there. These words have had a profound impact on both of us “Tsai stated this during a ceremony in Taipei that was held to welcome Gonsalves.
The prime minister of the Caribbean nation, which is one of approximately a dozen nations that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, stated that he was on the island in order to express solidarity, strengthen bilateral relations, and pursue peace, security, and prosperity for all parties involved. It is imperative that any and all disagreements be resolved amicably and in a manner befitting a civilised society.
According to Tsai, this is Gonsalves’ twelfth visit to Taiwan, and his eleventh visit as prime minister. This “clearly demonstrates the significance that he gives to diplomatic ties between our nations,” Tsai said. This is Gonsalves’ eleventh visit to Taiwan as prime minister. In recent days, China has conducted military drills in the seas around Taiwan that have never been seen before. Additionally, China has fired ballistic missiles over the capital of Taiwan for the first first time.
The drills were initiated in response to a visit to the island that is self-governing by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, Nancy Pelosi, the previous week. They were initially scheduled to end on Sunday, the same day that Gonsalves arrived in Taiwan for a visit that will last for six days. The Chinese military said on Monday that it is continuing to conduct training exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan.
China has never given up on the use of force to subjugate Taiwan under its rule, and the country maintains that Taiwan is a part of its territory even now. Only the people of Taiwan can determine their own destiny, and the People’s Republic of China has never ruled any portion of the island, according to the government of Taiwan, which asserts that China has no authority to speak for Taiwan or to claim sovereignty over the island.
