Taiwan will ensure regional peace, president tells French senators By Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan will proceed to play its position as a member of the worldwide group and guarantee regional peace and stability, President Tsai Ing-wen advised a visiting delegation of French senators on Thursday amid escalating tensions with China.

The 4 senators, lead by former defence minister Alain Richard, arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, regardless of the robust objections of China which views the island as its personal territory and is all the time angered by visits of international officers.

The go to by the senators comes after 4 straight days, starting final Friday, of massed Chinese language air drive missions into Taiwan’s air defence zone, strikes met with concern by Washington and its allies.

Chatting with the senators on the presidential workplace, Tsai thanked France for its concern in regards to the state of affairs within the Taiwan Strait and help for its worldwide participation.

“We are going to proceed to fulfil our obligations as members of the worldwide group to make sure peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific area. We additionally hope to make extra contributions to the world together with France,” she added.

Richard, head of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, was the nation’s defence minister from 1997 to 2002 below President Jacques Chirac. Richard has visited Taiwan twice earlier than, in 2015 and 2018.

Tsai mentioned Taiwan was “very moved” Richard determined to come back, regardless of what she described as “strain” – a reference to China.

In March, the Chinese language embassy in Paris warned in opposition to lawmakers assembly Taiwanese officers, prompting a rebuff from the French international ministry, which mentioned French senators are free to fulfill whomever they want once they journey.

Tsai didn’t immediately point out the current Chinese language air drive actions.

The senators should not the one senior international guests in Taiwan in the meanwhile.

Afterward Thursday, Tsai will meet the visiting former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott.

Neither France nor Australia have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, like most nations.

Taiwan has been eager to bolster its ties with different democracies as China steps up its strain marketing campaign, making an attempt to drive the island to just accept Chinese language sovereignty.

Taiwan’s authorities has denounced China’s strikes, and says it can defend the island’s freedom and democracy, and that solely Taiwan’s folks can resolve their future.