China’s anger over Taiwan’s William Lai visiting the US

China has begun military exercises surrounding Taiwan as a “stern warning” to so-called separatist forces on the self-governed island, Al Jazeera reported. On Saturday, tensions between China and Taiwan rose as Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai returned to Taipei following two stops in the United States as part of a trip to Paraguay.
Lai’s transits through the United States have enraged Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of their country while the latter called itself a sovereign and independent country and not part of the former, according to Al Jazeera. Taiwan on Saturday also termed China as the “bully next door”, adding that Beijing should hold its own election instead of shaping Taipei.
“The #PRC has made it clear it wants to shape #Taiwan’s coming national election. Well, it’s up to our citizens to decide, not the bully next door. Look, #China should hold its own elections; I’m sure its people would be thrilled,” Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on microblogging site X. Taiwan on Saturday detected 42 warplane incursions into its air defence zone since China announced the launch of military drills, the country’s Defence Ministry said. “Since 0900 (UTC+8) today (Aug. 19), the R.O.C. Armed Forces detected 42 PLA aircraft (including KJ-500, Y-9, J-10, J-11, J-16, SU-30 etc.), 26 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, the PLA aircraft conducted joint combat patrol with 8 PLAN vessels,” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said on X, formerly Twitter. “The R.O.C. Armed Forces are closely monitoring the situation with our ISR system and have deployed CAP aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response,” it added. Taiwan has been claimed by the People’s Republic of China as its territory since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communist forces.

What does Taiwan say?
Taiwan asserts its sovereignty, stating that China’s lack of historical rule over the island denies it authority to claim or represent it globally. Only Taiwan’s citizens can determine its future. Officially named the Republic of China, Taiwan is recognized by just 13 nations. Tsai Ing-wen’s presidency saw shifts in allegiances to China, which intensified its efforts to isolate Taiwan. The government asserts its sovereignty and right to independent diplomatic relations.
What is the state of relations between Taipei and Beijing?
China regards Tsai as a separatist and has repeatedly rejected her demands for negotiations. Tsai favours peace, but her administration will defend Taiwan if it is attacked. According to Beijing, Tsai must realise that China and Taiwan are part of a “one China”. Neither side recognises the other, and China shut down all formal contact mechanisms after Tsai took government for the first time in 2016, Al Jazeera reported.