Speaker of the US House to meet with President of Taiwan

The US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet with Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen in California later this week, his office said in a statement. China has repeatedly urged against the sit-down, saying it would take tough countermeasures in response. Taiwan's presidential office also said the event with McCarthy would go ahead, after previous reports suggested Tsai would meet with the top US representative on her way home from a visit to Latin America. Beijing's consulate in Los Angeles insisted Tsai was engaged in official exchanges with US lawmakers and putting on a "political show". The meeting with McCarthy "is not conducive to regional peace, security nor stability, and is not in the common interests of the people of China and the United States," the consulate said, adding that the House speaker "will undoubtedly repeat disastrous past mistakes and further damage Sino-US relations." The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it strongly opposes any form of official interaction and contact between the US side and Taiwan authorities and will take resolute measures in response.

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, but Beijing considers it part of its sovereign territory and has the right to reclaim the land by force. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but it continues contact with Taipei. Last year, a trip to the island by then-House Speaker Nancy triggered unprecedented Chinese military drills in the airspace and waters around Taiwan, including an exercise simulating a full-on blockade.