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TAIPEI: A delegation of French senators led by a former defence minister arrived on Wednesday in Taiwan, the place they may maintain talks with President Tsai Ing-wen, regardless of robust protests from China.
Beijing opposes Taipei having any official diplomatic exchanges and has aggressively tried to dissuade politicians from visiting in recent times.
The Chinese language embassy warned that the go to would injury the pursuits of China, Chinese language-French relations and “the picture of France” in latest feedback on its web site.
France’s overseas ministry has dismissed China’s protests, saying the senators have been free to make their very own selections about their journey plans.
The delegation will meet Tsai on Thursday earlier than wrapping up their journey on Sunday, based on Taiwan’s overseas ministry.
“The senators are making the go to regardless of threats from the Chinese language ambassador to France, displaying their steadfast dedication to the spirit of freedom and democracy,” the ministry stated in an announcement on Tuesday.
The Chinese language ambassador wrote to the chief of the French delegation, Alain Richard, in February, saying his go to would “clearly violate the one-China precept and ship the incorrect sign to pro-independence forces in Taiwan”.
Richard chairs the French senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group and beforehand visited the island in 2015 and 2018.
Beijing has ramped up strain on self-ruled democratic Taiwan since Tsai got here to energy in 2016, as she views the island as a de facto sovereign nation and never a part of its territory.
Beijing opposes Taipei having any official diplomatic exchanges and has aggressively tried to dissuade politicians from visiting in recent times.
The Chinese language embassy warned that the go to would injury the pursuits of China, Chinese language-French relations and “the picture of France” in latest feedback on its web site.
France’s overseas ministry has dismissed China’s protests, saying the senators have been free to make their very own selections about their journey plans.
The delegation will meet Tsai on Thursday earlier than wrapping up their journey on Sunday, based on Taiwan’s overseas ministry.
“The senators are making the go to regardless of threats from the Chinese language ambassador to France, displaying their steadfast dedication to the spirit of freedom and democracy,” the ministry stated in an announcement on Tuesday.
The Chinese language ambassador wrote to the chief of the French delegation, Alain Richard, in February, saying his go to would “clearly violate the one-China precept and ship the incorrect sign to pro-independence forces in Taiwan”.
Richard chairs the French senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group and beforehand visited the island in 2015 and 2018.
Beijing has ramped up strain on self-ruled democratic Taiwan since Tsai got here to energy in 2016, as she views the island as a de facto sovereign nation and never a part of its territory.
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